Glove with reduced circumference fingertip regions

ABSTRACT

An ambidextrous or hand-specific glove including a wrist region, palm region, and at least one digit region having a fingertip region and a remaining portion. A part of a 360° perimeter of the fingertip region is reduced in length relative to the perimeter of the remaining portion of that digit region. The reduced circumference fingertip region is configured to be smaller than the tip of a user&#39;s finger or thumb when inserted into the glove. The reduction in the circumference of the fingertip region may include reducing an arcuate length of a pair of opposed sections of the fingertip region. The opposed sections may be sections of the front and rear surfaces of the digit region or opposed sections of the first side surface and second side surface of the digit region.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No.17/540,368, filed Dec. 2, 2021, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/787,560 filed Feb. 11, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No.11,197,509, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/209,066 filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,602,787, which is aContinuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/136,191 filed Apr.22, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,390,575, which application claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/152,302 filed Apr.24, 2015. The entire disclosures of all of these applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to gloves. Specifically, thedisclosure relates to gloves used in settings where tactile sensitivityand finger dexterity are particularly desirable. The disclosure relatesparticularly to a glove have at least one digit region having afingertip region of a reduced circumference relative to the remainingportion of the respective digit region. The reduction in thecircumference of the fingertip region is achieved by reducing dimensionsof only a part of the 360° perimeter of the respective digit region.

BACKGROUND ART

Nitrile or nitrile rubber gloves are well known for use in the medicalfield. One of the problems with previously known medical gloves is thattactile sensitivity and dexterity may be reduced or lost because of thepresence of glove material between the user's sensitive fingertips andthe patient or equipment contacted with the user's gloved hand.Additionally, surgical gloves for example, have a tendency to stretchwhen worn for long periods of time. The stretching can cause the glovesto lose their ability to cling to the user's hand and, moreparticularly, to the user's fingertips. There is therefore a tendencyfor the user's tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity to deteriorateover the course of a few hours while wearing the gloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art for an improved glove for use in the medicalfield and in other settings where people need to have a high degree oftactile sensitivity and finger dexterity. There is furthermore a needfor an improved glove that will have less of a tendency to stretch,particularly around the fingertips, when the glove is worn for aprolonged period of time. Additionally, there is a need for an improvedglove which will have less of a tendency to cause hypersensitivity orallergic reaction in people who have to habitually wear gloves, such asthose in the medical field.

The glove disclosed herein will be discussed as being useful foractivities such as taking a patient's pulse. It should be understood,however, that the disclosed glove may be used for any of a number ofother different tasks or procedures in other industries and settingswhich may require a user's tactile sensitivity and/or dexterity, orwhere the user needs protection from chemicals in their environment,and/or may need to wear protective gloves for a prolonged period oftime.

An ambidextrous glove and a hand-specific glove are disclosed herein.Each of the ambidextrous glove and the hand-specific gloves include awrist region; a palm region; and a digit region. The wrist region, palmregion and digit region define a hand-receiving cavity and the wristregion defines an opening to that hand-receiving cavity. The disclosedglove addresses some of the issues found with prior art gloves. Theglove disclosed herein may be comprised of any suitable material such asany suitable rubber, e.g., nitrile rubber. If the glove is made fromnitrile rubber it may include nitrile rubber that is free of oressentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators/accelerants.Some accelerators/accelerants that the glove's nitrile rubber may befree of or essentially free of may include carbonates or thiurams. Thenitrile rubber that is free of zinc, sulfur, and accelerators(accelerants) may be the portion of the glove that contacts the user'sskin.

The composition of the disclosed glove may tend to reducehypersensitivity or allergic reactions in populations that may berequired to frequently wear protective gloves. The glove may include aband region in the digit region that will partially encircle or fullyencircle one or more of the user's knuckles of one or more of the user'sfingers or thumb. These band regions tend to make it easier for the userto bend their fingers and/or thumb while wearing the glove. Thisimproved bendability provided by the glove may help improve the user'sdexterity while wearing the glove. The presence of the band regions mayalso reduce the tendency of the glove material to become stretched whenthe glove is worn for a long period of time.

The disclosed glove may additionally be provided with texturing onsurfaces that may be used to grip articles such as the inside or frontsurfaces of the digit regions and the palm region. In such texturedgloves the upper regions of the front surface on the index finger regionand/or middle finger region may be left untextured (i.e., texture-free)or smooth. The texturing on any glove surfaces may be provided byforming a pattern in or on an exterior surface of the glove. The patternmay be of any desired configuration such as a diamond pattern, aherringbone pattern, a fan pattern, a fish scale pattern, a sand patternor texture, a wave pattern etc. The “smooth” regions of the glove willbe free of any such texturing or pattern. The untextured or smooth frontsurfaces on the index and/or middle finger regions and/or thumb regionmay enable the user to more easily take a patient's pulse than if thesefront surfaces were textured. The lack of texture may help ensure thatthe naturally-existing tactile sensitivity in the uppermost pads of theuser's index finger and/or middle finger and/or thumb is as close aspossible to how sensitive these regions of the user's fingers and thumbwould be if no gloves are being worn. If a patient has an extremely weakpulse or is unconscious, it is extremely common that the vast majorityof EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians) will immediately tear the indexand middle finger regions off previously known gloves in order to exposetheir bare skin so that they may try and locate the patient's pulse.This tends to occur no matter what size glove the EMT is using. When itcomes to taking a pulse, if there is any overlapping material on themiddle or index finger regions of a glove, then that extra materialtends to interfere with taking a pulse, particularly if the patient'spulse if faint. Of course, tearing the index and middle finger regionsoff a glove will leave the EMT at risk of contamination or harm becausethey now have exposed skin handling an injured or unconscious patient.The glove disclosed herein addresses this issue in that the smoothfingertip regions on the index finger region and middle finger regions(and thumb region) may ensure that there is close proximity between theuser's fingertips and the patient's skin. In some embodiments, thefingertip regions of the index finger region and/or the middle fingerregion and/or the thumb region of the glove of the present invention areof reduced or smaller circumference and diameter, thus ensuring theglove material is pulled tightly over the fingertips and ensuring thatthere is very little if any excess glove material that can interferewith the user finding a faint pulse on a patient or performing othertasks. Some or all of the fingertip regions of the fingers regions(index, middle, ring, and little) and thumb region may be smooth(untextured or unpatterned) or differently patterned or of a reduced orsmaller circumference/diameter in the manner described herein.

In one aspect, the disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digitregion extending outwardly from the palm region; a hand-receiving cavitydefined by the wrist region, palm region and digit region, and anopening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavitybeing adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted through the opening;and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit region may becomprised of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zincand/or sulfur and/or accelerators.

In another aspect, the disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digitregion extending outwardly from the palm region, said digit regionincluding an index finger region and middle finger region; ahand-receiving cavity defined by the wrist region, palm region and digitregion, and an opening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region,said cavity being adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted throughthe opening; and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit regionmay be comprised of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially freeof one or more of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators, and whereinthe digit region and palm region may be textured except for a section ofa front surface of one or both of the index finger region and the middlefinger region and the section is located adjacent a tip of theassociated index finger region and the middle finger region and extendsfor a distance downwardly therefrom and towards the palm region. Theterm “front section” should be understood to be that part of the indexfinger region or middle finger region that is adjacent the uppermost padon the user's index or middle finger; where that uppermost pad is usedto touch objects and is highly sensitive to the touch.

In another aspect, the disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digitregion extending outwardly from the palm region and comprising an indexfinger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and littlefinger region and a thumb region; a hand-receiving cavity defined by thewrist region, palm region and digit region, and an opening to saidcavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavity being adapted toreceive a hand of a user inserted through the opening; and wherein thewrist region, palm region and digit region may be comprised of nitrilerubber that is free of or essentially free of sulfur and one or more ofthe index finger region, middle finger region, ring finger region,little finger region and thumb region includes a band region adapted tobe located proximate one or more of a user's finger knuckles; and theband region comprises alternating ridges and valley's formed in thematerial of the glove.

In yet another aspect, the glove may provide a wrist region; a palmregion extending outwardly from the wrist region; a thumb region, anindex finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region and alittle finger region all extending outwardly from the palm region andeach having a fingertip region that extends from proximate a tip thereofto proximate where a first knuckle of a user's thumb or finger will belocated when the glove is worn; wherein the fingertip region of theindex finger region is of a first circumference and a first diameter;and wherein a remaining portion of the index finger region from thefingertip region thereof to the palm region is of a second circumferenceand a second diameter; and wherein the first circumference is smallerthan the second circumference and the first diameter is smaller than thesecond diameter; and wherein the first circumference and first diameterof the fingertip region of the index finger region may be of a size thatcauses the fingertip region of the index finger region to tend to bepulled taut or tightly around a tip of a person's index finger when theglove is worn and applies pressure thereto.

In a further aspect, the disclosure may provide a method of using aglove for performing a medical procedure, said method comprising:providing a glove comprising: a wrist region; a palm region extendingoutwardly from the wrist region; a thumb region, an index finger region,a middle finger region, a ring finger region and a little finger regionall extending outwardly from the palm region and each having a fingertipregion that extends from proximate a tip thereof to proximate where afirst knuckle of a user's thumb or finger will be located when the gloveis worn; wherein the fingertip region of the index finger region is of afirst circumference and a first diameter; and wherein a remainingportion of the index finger region from the fingertip region thereof tothe palm region is of a second circumference and a second diameter; andwherein the first circumference is smaller than the second circumferenceand the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter; inserting auser's hand into the glove; said step of inserting including insertingthe user's index finger into the index finger region of the glove;pulling material of the fingertip region of the index finger regiontightly over the tip of user's index finger; applying pressure to thetip of the user's index finger as the material is pulled tightly overthe tip of the user's index finger; placing the tip of the user's indexfinger on a pulse point of a patient's body and detecting the patient'sblood pressure through the fingertip region of the index finger regionof the glove.

In another aspect, the disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a thumbregion, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring fingerregion and a little finger region all extending outwardly from the palmregion and each having a fingertip region that extends from proximate atip thereof to proximate where a first knuckle of a user's thumb orfinger will be located when the glove is worn; and wherein the fingertipregion of each of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middlefinger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region hasa front surface adapted to be located adjacent a front of a user's thumband fingers; and a back surface adapted to be located adjacent a back ofthe user's thumb and fingers; and wherein the front surfaces of thefingertip regions of one or more of the thumb region, the index fingerregion and the middle finger region are free of texture and some or allof a rest of the glove including the fingertip regions of the ringfinger region and little finger region are textured.

Furthermore, in another aspect, the disclosure may provide a glovecomprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from thewrist region; a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle fingerregion, a ring finger region and a little finger region all extendingoutwardly from the palm region and each having a fingertip region thatextends from proximate a tip thereof to proximate where a first knuckleof a user's thumb or finger will be located when the glove is worn; andwherein the fingertip region of each of the thumb region, the indexfinger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and thelittle finger region has a front surface adapted to be located adjacenta front of a user's thumb and fingers; and a back surface adapted to belocated adjacent a back of the user's thumb and fingers; and wherein thefront surfaces of the fingertip regions of one or more of the thumbregion, the index finger region and the middle finger region areprovided with a first texture; and some or all of a rest of the gloveincluding the fingertip regions of the ring finger region and littlefinger region are provided with a second texture.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region and each having a fingertip region that extends fromproximate a tip thereof to proximate where a first knuckle of a user'sthumb or finger will be located when the glove is worn; and a remainingportion that extends from a lower end of the fingertip region to thepalm region; wherein at least a front surface of the fingertip region ofone or more of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middlefinger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger is providedwith a first texture and an associated remaining portion of the one ormore of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle fingerregion, the ring finger region, and the little finger is provided with asecond texture.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region and each having a fingertip region that extends fromproximate a tip thereof to proximate where a first knuckle of a user'sthumb or finger will be located when the glove is worn; and a remainingportion that extends from a lower end of the fingertip region to thepalm region; wherein at least a front surface of the fingertip region ofone or more of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middlefinger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger is providedwith a first texture and an associated remaining portion of the one ormore of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle fingerregion, the ring finger region, and the little finger is free oftexture.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region and each having a fingertip region that extends fromproximate a tip thereof to proximate where a first knuckle of a user'sthumb or finger will be located when the glove is worn; and a remainingportion that extends from a lower end of the fingertip region to thepalm region; wherein at least a front surface of the fingertip region ofthe index finger region is provided with a first texture and wherein theremaining portion of the index finger region is provided with a secondtexture.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glovecomprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from thewrist region; a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle fingerregion, a ring finger region and a little finger region all extendingoutwardly from the palm region and each having a fingertip region thatextends from proximate a tip thereof to proximate where a first knuckleof a user's thumb or finger will be located when the glove is worn; anda remaining portion that extends from a lower end of the fingertipregion to the palm region; wherein at least a front surface of thefingertip region of the index finger region is provided with a firsttexture and wherein the remaining portion of the index finger region isfree of texture.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region; a fingertip region and a remaining portion provided oneach of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle fingerregion, the ring finger region, and the little finger region, whereinthe fingertip region extends from proximate a tip to proximate where afirst knuckle of a user's thumb or respective finger will be locatedwhen the glove is worn; and wherein the remaining portion extends from alower end of the fingertip region to the palm region; and wherein atleast one of the fingertip regions is of a reduced circumferencerelative to a circumference of the associated remaining portion.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region; wherein the glove is fabricated with an exteriorsurface thereof being of a first color and an interior surface thereofbeing of a second color, where the first color contrasts with the secondcolor; and wherein the first color and the second color are a tearindicator when the glove is one of cut, ripped and torn; and a cuffprovided at an end of the wrist region; wherein the cuff comprises aportion of the wrist region that is one of rolled and folded back uponitself; wherein the cuff is of the second color and a rest of the wristregion is of the first color. As by way of an example only, the firstcolor may be white and the second color may be blue.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glovecomprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from thewrist region; a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle fingerregion, a ring finger region and a little finger region all extendingoutwardly from the palm region; a fingertip region and a remainingportion provided on each of the thumb region, index finger region,middle finger region, ring finger region, and little finger region,wherein the fingertip region extends from proximate a tip to proximatewhere a first knuckle of one of a user's thumb and respective fingerwill be located when the glove is worn; and wherein the remainingportion extends from a lower end of the fingertip region to the palmregion; and wherein at least one of the fingertip regions of the thumbregion, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ringfinger region, and the little finger region is of a bullet-tipconfiguration.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region; a fingertip region and a remaining portion provided oneach of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle fingerregion, the ring finger region, and the little finger region, whereinthe fingertip region extends from proximate a tip to proximate where afirst knuckle of one of a user's thumb and respective finger will belocated when the glove is worn; and wherein the remaining portionextends from a lower end of the fingertip region to the palm region; andwherein the fingertip regions of one or more of the thumb region, theindex finger region, and the middle finger region has an appearance thatis different from a rest of the glove.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glove comprisinga wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ringfinger region and a little finger region all extending outwardly fromthe palm region; wherein each of the thumb region, the index fingerregion, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the littlefinger region has a length measured from a tip thereof to the palmregion; wherein at least one of the thumb region, the index fingerregion, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the littlefinger region is reduced in length.

In one aspect, the disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; atleast one digit region extending outwardly from the palm region andterminating at a terminal end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the atleast one digit region extends between the terminal end and the palmregion; wherein the at least one digit region has a perimeter measuredalong a plane oriented at ninety degrees relative to the longitudinalaxis; wherein at least one section of the perimeter of the at least onedigit region is reduced in size such that the at least one digit regionincludes a fingertip region of a first circumference and a remainingportion of a second circumference, wherein the first circumference isless than the second circumference.

In one embodiment, the at least one section of the perimeter of reducedsize extends through less than 360°. In one embodiment, the at least onesection of the perimeter of reduced size may comprise a first section ofthe perimeter; and a second section of the perimeter which is opposed tothe first section; wherein the first section and the second section,together, extend through less than 360°. In one embodiment, the glovemay further comprise a third section of the perimeter located betweenthe first section of the perimeter and the second section of theperimeter; wherein the third section is unreduced in size. In oneembodiment, the glove may further comprise a fourth section of theperimeter located opposite the third section, wherein the fourth sectionof the perimeter extends between the first section of the perimeter andthe second section of the perimeter; wherein both the third section andthe fourth section are unreduced in size.

In one embodiment, the fingertip region may originate at the terminalend of the at least one digit region and extend inwardly for a distancetowards the palm region; and wherein the remaining portion is locatedbetween the fingertip region and the palm region. In one embodiment, thefingertip region may transition to the remaining portion at a locationadapted to be generally aligned with a first knuckle of a person'sfinger or thumb received within an interior of the at least one digitregion. In one embodiment, the fingertip region may be from about 0.75inches up to about 1.5 inches, (i.e., from about 19 mm up to about 40mm) in length measured from the terminal end of the at least one digitregion in a direction moving towards the palm region.

In one embodiment, the at least one digit region has a front surface anda rear surface opposed to the front surface; a first side surface and asecond side surface opposed to the first side surface, wherein the firstside surface and the second side surface extend between the frontsurface and the rear surface; and wherein at least one arcuate region ofthe remaining portion may extend outwardly beyond one of the frontsurface and the rear surface of the fingertip region. In one embodiment,the at least one arcuate region may comprise a first arcuate region anda second arcuate region, and the first arcuate region extends outwardlybeyond the front surface of the fingertip region and the second arcuateregion extends outwardly beyond the rear surface of the fingertipregion. In one embodiment, the first arcuate region and the secondarcuate region may be mirror images of one another.

In one embodiment, the at least one digit region has a front surface anda rear surface opposed to the front surface; a first side surface and asecond side surface opposed to the first side surface, wherein the firstside surface and the second side surface extend between the frontsurface and the rear surface; and wherein at least one arcuate region ofthe remaining portion may extend outwardly beyond one of the first sidesurface and the second side surface of the fingertip region. In oneembodiment, the at least one arcuate region may comprise a first arcuateregion and a second arcuate region, and the first arcuate region mayextend outwardly beyond the first side surface of the fingertip regionand the second arcuate region extends outwardly beyond the second sidesurface of the fingertip region. In one embodiment, the first arcuateregion and the second arcuate region may be mirror images of oneanother.

In one embodiment, the at least one digit region has a front surface anda rear surface opposed to the front surface; a first side surface and asecond side surface opposed to the first side surface, wherein the firstside surface and the second side surface extend between the frontsurface and the rear surface; wherein an imaginary major axis extendsbetween the front surface and the rear surface; and wherein an imaginaryminor axis extends between the first side surface and the second sidesurface; wherein the imaginary major axis and the imaginary minor axisare oriented at ninety degrees relative to one another and to thelongitudinal axis; and wherein reduction of the perimeter along the atleast one section may cause a dimension of the fingertip region alongone of the imaginary major axis and the imaginary minor axis to bereduced relative to a dimension of the remaining portion along the oneof the imaginary major axis and the imaginary minor axis. In oneembodiment, the reduction of the perimeter along the at least onesection may cause a reduction in dimension of the fingertip region alongthe imaginary major axis, and a magnitude of the reduction in thedimension occurs substantially equally on both sides of the imaginaryminor axis. In one embodiment, the reduction of the perimeter along theat least one section causes a reduction in dimension of the fingertipregion along the imaginary minor axis, and a magnitude of the reductionin the dimension occurs substantially equally on both sides of theimaginary major axis.

In one embodiment, the at least one digit region comprises one or moreof a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, aring finger region, and a little finger region. In one embodiment, theglove may be manufactured from one of nitrile, a medium acrylic nitrilehaving about 24% solids, a high acrylic nitrile having about 45% solids,neoprene, natural rubber, and elastomeric polymers. In one embodiment,the glove may be manufactured from a material that is free of oressentially free of zinc, sulfur, fluoride, cross-links, accelerators,and accelerants including carbonates and thiurams.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a glovecomprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from thewrist region; at least one digit region extending outwardly from thepalm region and terminating at a terminal end, wherein a longitudinalaxis of the at least one digit region extends between the terminal endand the palm region; a perimeter of the at least one digit regioncircumscribing a centerline that extends along the longitudinal axis,wherein the perimeter extends through 360°; wherein at least one sectionof the perimeter spaced a distance inwardly from the terminal end of theat least one digit region is reduced in size such that the at least onedigit region comprises a fingertip region of a first circumference and aremaining portion of a second circumference, wherein the firstcircumference is less than the second circumference; and wherein theremaining portion extends between the palm region and the at least onesection of the perimeter of reduced size.

In one embodiment, at least one arcuate region of the remaining portionmay extend radially outwardly beyond an exterior surface of thefingertip region when the terminal end of the fingertip region is viewedlooking in a direction of the palm region. In one embodiment, the atleast one arcuate region of the remaining portion may be longitudinallyaligned with the at least one section of the perimeter of reduced size.In one embodiment, the at least one arcuate region may comprise a firstarcuate region and a second arcuate region that is opposed to the firstarcuate region. In one embodiment, the at least one section of reducedsize may comprise a first section of reduced size and a second sectionof reduced size; and wherein the first section of reduced size islongitudinally aligned with the first arcuate region and the secondsection of reduced size is longitudinally aligned with the secondarcuate region. In one embodiment, the first arcuate region and thesecond arcuate region may be circumferentially spaced from one anotherby an area of the perimeter which is not reduced in size. In oneembodiment, the at least one section of the perimeter of reduced sizeextends through less than 360°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure is set forth in the following description, is shown in thedrawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth inthe appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the disclosure; where the glove is anambidextrous glove and wherein a rear elevation view of the ambidextrousglove will be a mirror image of the glove shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the front of the ambidextrous glove takenon line 2-2 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the front of the ambidextrous glove similarto FIG. 2 except showing an embodiment of the glove that includesadditional layers in the glove;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of the glove inaccordance with the present disclosure showing a hand-specific glove fora right hand; wherein the left handed glove will be a mirror imagehereof; and wherein the glove includes a plurality of band regionsformed in the digit regions;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the glove taken on line 5-5 of FIG.4 ;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showingadditional layers of the glove;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view a third embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the disclosure; where the glove illustratedis a hand-specific glove for a user's left-hand; wherein a right handhand-specific glove would be a mirror image hereof; and wherein thefigure shows texturing on the palm and digit regions but not on thefront surfaces of fingertip regions on the index finger region and themiddle finger region;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the glove taken along line 8-8 ofFIG. 7 ;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the glove similar to FIG. 8 showingadditional layers of the glove;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove isa hand-specific glove and the fingertip regions of the index and middlefinger regions are of a reduced or smaller circumference and diameter;

FIG. 10A is a cross-section through the fingertip region of the indexfinger region of the glove shown in FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 10B is a cross-section through a wider portion of the index fingerregion of the glove of FIG. 10 , where the wider portion is locatedbelow the fingertip region;

FIG. 10C is a front elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the gloveshown as an ambidextrous glove;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of another example of a glove inaccordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, where theglove is a hand-specific glove having texturing on the gripping surfacesof the glove but where the fingertip regions of the index finger regionand middle finger region are free of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 11A is a front elevation view of another example of the glove shownas an ambidextrous glove;

FIG. 12 is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 11 showingthe diamond texture pattern;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 12 and showingthe diamond texture pattern in greater detail;

FIG. 14A is a front elevation view of a first example of a fifthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip region of the indexfinger region is free of texturing and is smooth;

FIG. 14B is a front elevation view of a second example of the fifthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip regions of theindex finger region and middle finger region are free of texturing andare smooth;

FIG. 14C is a front elevation view of a third example of the fifthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip regions of thethumb region, index finger region, and middle finger region are free oftexturing and are smooth;

FIG. 14D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the fifthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip regions of thethumb region, index finger region, middle finger region and ring fingerregion are free of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 14E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the fifth wherethe glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing on the grippingsurfaces of the glove but all the fingertip regions are free oftexturing and are smooth;

FIG. 15A is a front elevation view of a first example of a sixthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having smoothgripping surfaces and where the fingertip region of the index fingerregion is textured;

FIG. 15B is a front elevation view of a second example of the sixthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having smoothgripping surfaces and where the fingertip regions of the index fingerregion and middle finger region are textured;

FIG. 15C is a front elevation view of a third example of the sixth wherethe glove is a hand-specific glove having smooth gripping surfaces andthe fingertip regions of the thumb region, index finger region, andmiddle finger region are textured;

FIG. 15D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the sixthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having smoothgripping surfaces and the fingertip regions of the thumb region, indexfinger region, middle finger region and ring finger region are textured;

FIG. 15E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the sixthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having smoothgripping surfaces and all the fingertip regions are textured;

FIG. 16A is a front elevation view of a first example of a seventhembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, shown as a hand-specific glove, with a fingertip region ofthe index finger region being provided with a first texture and a restof the glove being provided with a second texture;

FIG. 16B is a front elevation view of second example of the seventhembodiment shown as a hand-specific glove; and showing the fingertipregions of the thumb region, index finger region and middle fingerregion having a first texture thereon and the rest of the glove with asecond texture thereon;

FIG. 16C is a front elevation view of third example of the seventhembodiment shown as a hand-specific glove and showing the fingertipregions of the thumb region, index finger region and middle fingerregion free of texture, the fingertip regions of the ring finger regionand little finger region being provided with a first texture, and therest of the glove being provided with a second texture;

FIG. 17A is a front elevation view of a first example of an eighthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip region of the indexfinger region is of smaller circumference than a remaining portion ofthe index finger region and is free of texturing and is smooth;

FIG. 17B is a front elevation view of a second example of the eighthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip regions of theindex finger region and middle finger region are of a smallercircumference than a remaining portion of the associated index fingerregion and middle finger region and are free of texturing and aresmooth;

FIG. 17C is a front elevation view of a third example of the eighthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip regions of thethumb region, index finger region, and middle finger region of smallercircumferences than the remaining portions of the associated thumbregion or finger regions and are free of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 17D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the eighthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip regions of thethumb region, index finger region, middle finger region and ring fingerregion are of smaller circumferences than the remaining portions of theassociated thumb region or finger regions and are free of texturing andare smooth;

FIG. 17E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the eighthwhere the glove is a hand-specific glove having texturing on thegripping surfaces and all the fingertip regions are of smallercircumferences than the associated thumb region or finger region and arefree of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 18A is a front elevation view of a first example of a ninthembodiment of the glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, shown as a hand-specific glove, with a narrowed and texturedfingertip region on the index finger region, and where a rest of theglove is smooth/non-textured;

FIG. 18B is a front elevation view of a second example of the ninthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove with a narrowed andtextured fingertip region on the index finger region and middle fingerregion, and where a rest of the glove is smooth/non-textured;

FIG. 18C is a front elevation view of a third example of the ninthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove with a narrowed andtextured fingertip region on the thumb region, the index finger region,and the middle finger region, and where a rest of the glove issmooth/non-textured;

FIG. 18D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the ninthembodiment, where the glove is a hand-specific glove with a narrowed andtextured fingertip region on the thumb region, the index finger region,the middle finger region and the ring finger region; and where a rest ofthe glove is smooth/non-textured;

FIG. 18E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the ninth withfive narrowed and textured fingertip regions and where a rest of theglove is smooth/non-textured;

FIG. 19A is a front elevation view of first example of a tenthembodiment of the glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, shown as a hand-specific glove and showing a reducedcircumference fingertip region in the thumb region, index finger region,and middle finger region, as well as areas of the glove that aredifferently textured; n in addition to the tapered middle and indexfinger regions;

FIG. 19B is a front elevation view of second example of the tenthembodiment shown as a hand-specific glove and showing a reducedcircumference fingertip region in the thumb region, index finger region,and middle finger region, as well as areas of the glove that aredifferently textured;

FIG. 19C is a front elevation view of third example of the tenthembodiment shown as a hand-specific glove and showing a reducedcircumference fingertip region in the index finger region as well asareas of the glove that are smooth or differently textured;

FIG. 20A is a front elevation view of a first example of an eleventhembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove but the fingertip region of the indexfinger region is of smaller circumference than a remaining portion ofthe index finger region, is free of texturing and is smooth;

FIG. 20B is a front elevation view of a second example of the eleventhembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertip regions of theindex finger region and middle finger region are of a smallercircumference than a remaining portion of the associated index fingerregion and middle finger region and are free of texturing and aresmooth;

FIG. 20C is a front elevation view of a third example of the eleventhembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertip regions of thethumb region, index finger region, and middle finger region are ofsmaller circumferences than the remaining portions of the associatedthumb region or finger regions and are free of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 20D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the eleventhembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertip regions of thethumb region, index finger region, middle finger region and ring fingerregion are of smaller circumferences than the remaining portions of theassociated thumb region or finger regions and are free of texturing andare smooth;

FIG. 20E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the eleventhembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having texturing onthe gripping surfaces and all the fingertip regions are of smallercircumferences than the associated thumb region or finger region and arefree of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 21A is a front elevation view of a first example of a twelfthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove that is smooth ornon-textured on the gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertipregion of the index finger region is of smaller circumference than aremaining portion of the index finger region and is textured;

FIG. 21B is a front elevation view of a second example of the twelfthembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove that is smooth ornon-textured on the gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertipregions of the index finger region and middle finger region are of asmaller circumference than a remaining portion of the associated indexfinger region and middle finger region and are textured;

FIG. 21C is a front elevation view of a third example of the twelfthembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove that is smooth ornon-textured on the gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertipregions of the thumb region, index finger region, and middle fingerregion are of smaller circumferences than the remaining portions of theassociated thumb region or finger regions and are textured;

FIG. 21D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the twelfthembodiment, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove that is smooth ornon-textured on the gripping surfaces of the glove and the fingertipregions of the thumb region, index finger region, middle finger regionand ring finger region are of smaller circumferences than the remainingportions of the associated thumb region or finger regions and aretextured;

FIG. 21E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the twelfthembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove that is smooth ornon-textured on the gripping surfaces and all the fingertip regions areof smaller circumferences than the associated thumb region or fingerregion and are textured;

FIG. 22 is a front elevation view of a thirteenth embodiment of a glovein accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the gloveis an ambidextrous glove that may include one or more fingertip regionsthat have reduced circumferences relative to the associated remainingportion of the thumb region or finger region; and having areas that aresmooth or non-textured and other areas that are provided with a firsttexture, or a second texture or a third texture;

FIG. 23A is a front elevation view of a first example of a fourteenthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the index finger region; and showing askirt extending between the fingertip region and a remaining portion ofthe index finger region; and where the entire glove is smooth andnon-textured;

FIG. 23B is a front elevation view of a second example of the fourteenthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the index finger region and middlefinger region, and having a skirt between the bullet-tip and remainingportion thereof;

FIG. 23C is a front elevation view of a third example of the fourteenthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the thumb region, index finger region,and middle finger region, and having a skirt between the bullet-tip andremaining portion thereof;

FIG. 23D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the fourteenthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the thumb region, index finger region,middle finger region, and ring finger region, and having a skirt betweenthe bullet-tip and remaining portion thereof;

FIG. 23E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the fourteenthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on all five of the thumb region, indexfinger region, middle finger region, ring finger region, and littlefinger region, and having a skirt between the bullet-tip and remainingportion thereof;

FIG. 24A is a front elevation view of a first example of a fifteenthembodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the thumb region, index finger region,and middle finger region; a fingertip region of generally a samecircumference as the associated remaining portion on the ring fingerregion and little finger region, and where the bullet-tip fingertipregions are smooth, the same circumference fingertip regions areprovided with a first texture and the rest of the gloves is providedwith a second texture;

FIG. 24B is a front elevation view of a second example of the fifteenthembodiment where the glove is substantially identical to the glove shownin FIG. 24A except a first texture is provided on the same circumferencefingertip regions and the rest of the glove is smooth;

FIG. 24C is a front elevation view of a third example of the fifteenthembodiment where the glove is substantially identical to the glove shownin FIG. 24B except that the fingertip region of the thumb region is nota bullet-tip configuration but is instead of a smaller circumferencethan the associated remaining portion of the thumb region; and where adifferent texture is provided on the fingertip regions of the ringfinger region and the little finger region;

FIG. 25A is a front elevation view of a first example of a seventeenthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the index finger region; and showing askirt extending between the fingertip region and a remaining portion ofthe index finger region; and where the entire glove is textured;

FIG. 25B is a front elevation view of a second example of theseventeenth embodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having abullet-tip type fingertip region provided on the index finger region andmiddle finger region, and having a skirt between the bullet-tip andremaining portion thereof, and where the entire glove is textured;

FIG. 25C is a front elevation view of a third example of the seventeenthembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on the thumb region, index finger region,and middle finger region, and having a skirt between the bullet-tip andremaining portion thereof, and where the entire glove is textured;

FIG. 25D is a front elevation view of a fourth example of theseventeenth embodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having abullet-tip type fingertip region provided on the thumb region, indexfinger region, middle finger region, and ring finger region, and havinga skirt between the bullet-tip and remaining portion thereof, and wherethe entire glove is textured;

FIG. 25E is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the seventeenthembodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a bullet-tiptype fingertip region provided on all five of the thumb region, indexfinger region, middle finger region, ring finger region, and littlefinger region, and having a skirt between the bullet-tip and remainingportion thereof, and where the entire glove is textured;

FIG. 26 is a front elevation view of two gloves placed side-by-side,where one of the gloves is the glove shown in FIG. 16A (withouttexturing) and the other glove is an eighteenth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with the present disclosure, where both the index fingerregion and middle finger region have been reduced in length relative tothe glove shown in FIG. 16A;

FIG. 27A is a front elevation view of a nineteenth embodiment of a glovein accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is ahand-specific glove that includes a tear indicator in the form of adifferently colored interior and exterior surface or layer; and whereinthe presence of the tear indicator is visible to an observer in the formof a rolled cuff that is of a color that is different to a color of therest of the glove;

FIG. 27B is a front elevation view of the glove of FIG. 27A where theglove includes a cut and the differently colored interior surface orlayer is visible through the cut;

FIG. 28 is a front elevation view of a twentieth embodiment of a glovein accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is anambidextrous glove that incorporates the features of the tear indicatorof FIGS. 27A, and 27B therein and which includes a folded cuff insteadof a rolled cuff;

FIG. 29A is a front elevation view of a twenty-first embodiment of aglove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is ahand-specific glove having at least one fingertip region that includes afluted region therein;

FIG. 29B is a side elevation view of the fingertip region that includesthe fluted region taken along line 29B-29B of FIG. 29A;

FIG. 29C is a longitudinal cross-section of the fingertip region havingthe fluted region taken along line 29C-20C of FIG. 29B; and

FIG. 29D is a longitudinal cross-section of an alternative version ofthe fingertip region that includes two opposed fluted regions;

FIG. 29E is a side elevation view of the fingertip region similar toFIG. 29B except the fingertip region includes two fluted regions thatare located side-by-side;

FIG. 29F is a side elevation view of the fingertip region similar toFIG. 29B except the fingertip regions includes a plurality of flutedregions that are horizontally oriented with respect to a longitudinalaxis of the finger region; and

FIG. 29G is a cross-section of the fingertip region of FIG. 29F takenalong line 29G-29G thereof.

FIG. 30A is a front elevation view of a first example of a twenty-secondembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a reducedcircumference fingertip region on each of the index finger region;middle finger region, ring finger region, little finger region, andthumb region, wherein each fingertip region includes two arcuatesections formed where the fingertip region transitions to a remainingportion of the associated finger region or thumb region; and wherein theentire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 30B is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30C is a first side elevation view of the glove of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30D is a second side elevation view of the glove of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30E is a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30F is an enlarged front elevation view of the index finger regionof FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30G is an enlarged side elevation view of the index finger regiontaken along line 30G-30G of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30H is an enlarged top plan view of the index finger region takenalong line 30H-30H of FIG. 30F;

FIG. 30I is a front elevation view of a second example of thetwenty-second embodiment glove having reduced fingertip regions providedon the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region,and the ring finger region; and where the entire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 30J is a front elevation view of a third example of thetwenty-second embodiment glove having reduced fingertip regions providedon the thumb region, the index finger region and the middle fingerregion; and where the entire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 30K is a front elevation view of a fourth example of thetwenty-second embodiment glove having reduced fingertip regions providedon only the index finger region and the middle finger region; and wherethe entire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 30L is a front elevation view of a fifth example of thetwenty-second embodiment glove having reduced circumference fingertipregions provided on only the index finger region; and where the entireglove is non-textured;

FIG. 31 is a front elevation view of a first example of a twenty-thirdembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having reducedcircumference fingertip regions provided on each of the index fingerregion; middle finger region, ring finger region, little finger region,and thumb region, wherein each fingertip region includes two arcuatesections formed where the fingertip region transitions to a remainingportion of the associated finger region or thumb region; and wherein theentire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 32A is a front elevation view of a first example of a twenty-fourthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a reducedcircumference fingertip region on each of the index finger region;middle finger region, ring finger region, little finger region, andthumb region, wherein each fingertip region includes two arcuatesections formed where the fingertip region transitions to a remainingportion of the associated finger region or thumb region; and wherein theentire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 32B is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 32A;

FIG. 32C is a first side elevation view of the glove of FIG. 32A;

FIG. 32D is a second side elevation view of the glove of FIG. 32A;

FIG. 32E is a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 32A;

FIG. 32F is an enlarged front elevation view of the index finger regionof FIG. 32A;

FIG. 32G is an enlarged side elevation view of the index finger regiontaken along line 32G-32G of FIG. 32A;

FIG. 32H is an enlarged top plan view of the index finger region takenalong line 32H-32H of FIG. 32F;

FIG. 32I is a front elevation view of a second example of thetwenty-fourth embodiment glove having reduced fingertip regions providedon the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region,and the ring finger region; and where the entire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 32J is a front elevation view of a third example of thetwenty-fourth embodiment glove having reduced fingertip regions providedon the thumb region, the index finger region and the middle fingerregion; and where the entire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 32K is a front elevation view of a fourth example of thetwenty-fourth embodiment glove having reduced fingertip regions providedon only the index finger region and the middle finger region; and wherethe entire glove is non-textured;

FIG. 32L is a front elevation view of a fifth example of thetwenty-fourth embodiment glove having reduced circumference fingertipregions provided on only the index finger region; and where the entireglove is non-textured; and

FIG. 33 is a front elevation view of a first example of a twenty-fifthembodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having reducedcircumference fingertip regions provided on each of the index fingerregion; middle finger region, ring finger region, little finger region,and thumb region, wherein each fingertip region includes two arcuatesections formed where the fingertip region transitions to a remainingportion of the associated finger region or thumb region; and wherein theentire glove is non-textured.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a sample embodiment of an ambidextrous glove generallyindicated at 1. Glove 1 includes a wrist region 2, a palm region 4, anda digit region 6. Glove 1 has a top 8 and a bottom 10 with a bottomentrance opening 12 of a hand-receiving cavity 12. Entrance opening 12is at bottom 10 and serves to allow a user to insert his or her handtherethrough and into cavity 12. Entrance opening 12 is defined by wristregion 2. Cavity 12 extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8.

Digit region 6 includes five finger regions comprising a thumb region14, an index region 16, a middle finger region 18, a ring finger region20, and a little finger region 22. Each of the finger regions 14-22 hasa base 24 and a tip 25. Each of the finger regions at its respectivebase 24 is secured to palm region 4 and extends upwardly and outwardlytherefrom to the respective tip 25. Glove 1 has an exterior surface 28and an interior surface 30.

Glove 1 may include a single first layer 32 as shown in FIG. 2 , or aplurality of layers, such as layers 32, 34 and 36 as shown in FIG. 3 .Where the single layer 32 is used, as shown in FIG. 2 , exterior surface28 of glove 1 is also the exterior surface of layer 32, and interiorsurface 30 of glove 1 is also the interior surface of layer 32.

Glove 1 may include one or more additional layers that make up theglove. FIG. 3 shows two additional layers used to form glove 1. In thisparticular example of a glove 1 with two additional layers, a second orintermediate layer 34 has interior and exterior surfaces 38 and 40, andan exterior or third layer 36 has interior and exterior surfaces 42 and44. Interior surface 38 of layer 34 may be in contact with and securedto exterior surface 28 of first layer 32, while interior surface 42 ofthird layer 36 may be in contact with and secured to exterior surface 40of second layer 34. Thus, exterior surface 44 of layer 36 serves as theexterior surface 28A of glove 1 when formed of these three layers.Interior surface 30 in either case defines cavity 12 and extends fromadjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as the interior surfaceof wrist region 2, palm region 4 and each of the finger regions 14-22.Glove 1 may comprise one, two, three, or more layers, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

Where the single layer 32 is used, as shown in FIG. 2 , exterior surface28 extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as theexterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4 and finger regions14-22. Where the three layers are used as shown in FIG. 3 , exteriorsurface 44 or 28A extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 andserves as the exterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4, andfinger regions 14-22.

Layer 32 may be formed of nitrile rubber. In particular, layer 32 may beformed of a nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zincand/or sulfur and/or accelerators. Thus, each of exterior and interiorsurfaces 28 and 30 may be free of these same components and compounds,thereby providing a glove that reduces or essentially eliminates, inusers, hypersensitivity, or allergic reactions to compounds such as thezinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. It will be understood thatpeople may have hypersensitivity to other compounds that may be used onoccasion in nitrile gloves. It will be understood that the nitrilegloves in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure may befree of or essentially free of compounds that cause hypersensitivity orallergic reactions in users who wear the glove 1.

In the case of glove 1 which includes more than one layer; layer 32 maylikewise be formed of this same nitrile rubber that is free zinc and/orsulfur and/or accelerators. Layers 34 and 36 may be formed of varioustypes of polymers that are typically elastomeric polymers that aredifferent from layer 32 and which may be the same as or different fromone another. Thus, the elastomeric polymer of any of the additionallayers may have a different composition to the nitrile rubber used inthe first layer. The layers other than interior layer 32 may be formedof polymers that may or may not include zinc and/or sulfur and/or anaccelerator. The use of an additional polymer layer or layers to defineexterior surface 28A thus may provide a multilayer glove thatessentially eliminates the allergic reaction to compounds such as thezinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators noted above for a person havinghypersensitivity to such elements or compounds. This may be true even ifthe exterior layer or surface includes zinc and/or sulfur and/or anaccelerator because allergic reactions of this nature are most commonlycaused by prolonged contact with the allergen such as when a personwears the glove for an extended period so that contact of the wearer'shand and the interior layer/surface of the glove is the primary concernrelated to producing allergic reactions.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , a glove 50 is shown that is a hand-specificglove. In particular, FIG. 4 shows a right-handed glove although it willbe understood that FIG. 4 should likewise represent a left-handed gloveinasmuch as a left-handed glove is a mirror image of that shown in FIG.4 . Thus, unlike the ambidextrous glove 1 shown in FIG. 1 in which allof the finger regions including thumb region 14 are aligned along orintersected by a common plane, glove 50 is configured such that the fourfinger regions 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be aligned along a common planewhereas thumb region 14 is spaced from said plane. Aside from the factthat glove 50 is a hand-specific glove, it is nonetheless similar toglove 1 in that it includes a wrist region 2, a palm region 4, and adigit region 6 which includes five finger regions comprising a thumbregion 14, index finger region 16, middle finger region 18, ring fingerregion 20 and little finger region 22. FIG. 4 also shows that each ofthe finger regions 14-22 has a base 24 and a tip 25 and is secured topalm region 4 as described with respect to glove 1. Each of fingerregions 14-22 has a finger front 52 and a finger back 54. It is notedthat the finger fronts 52 of finger regions 16-22 generally face in thesame direction and that the finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22 facegenerally in the same direction and the opposite direction as fingerfronts 52 thereof. On the other hand, the finger front 52 of thumbregion 14 faces in a different direction than that of the finger fronts52 of the index, middle, ring and the little finger regions 16-22 andthe finger back 54 of thumb region 14 likewise faces in a differentdirection than that of finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22.

One or more of each of finger regions 14-22 along the finger back 54thereof may include a band region 56 including a plurality of bandsegments 58 that include respective elastomeric bands 60. Each bandregion 56 also includes a plurality of trough segments 64 between eachadjacent pair of band segments 58. In the sample embodiment, the top ofthe band region 58 of a given finger region may be spaced downwardly adistance from the tip 25 of the given finger region, for instance, about½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch and therefore may be positionedbetween a tip of the user's finger and the user's first knuckle in thatfinger. The bottom of each band region 58 may be located so that thebottom is located between the user's palm and lowermost knuckle on thatparticular finger or thumb (obviously only one knuckle is located on thethumb and the band region 58 associated therewith will originate betweenthe tip and the knuckle and the bottom of the band region will fallbetween the user's palm and knuckle on the thumb. Each finger region14-22 is formed of a peripheral wall 62 that defines the respectivefinger front and back 52 and 54, including the respective band region 56of band segments 58 and trough segments 64.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 , band region 56 is described in thisparagraph as viewed in a section view taken parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the given finger region. Each band segment 58 has a concavelycurved interior surface 66 and a convexly curved exterior surface 68such that surfaces 66 and 68 extend from adjacent the top of the givenband segment 58 to adjacent the bottom of the given band segment 58.Interior surface 66 faces the longitudinal axis of the given fingerregion and the portion of cavity 12 defined by the given finger regionwhile exterior surface 68 faces away from the longitudinal axis of thegiven finger region and the portion of cavity 12 defined by the givenfinger region. For a given pair of adjacent band segments 58, the top ofthe lower band segment (including its surfaces 66 and 68) is adjacentthe trough segment 64 between the given adjacent pair and the bottom ofthe higher band segment (including its surfaces 66 and 68), which isalso adjacent the trough segment 64 between the given adjacent pair.Each band 60 has a convexly curved exterior surface 70 and an interiorsurface 72. Each of surfaces 70 and 72 extend from adjacent the top ofthe given band 60 to the bottom of the given band 60. Interior surface72 faces the longitudinal axis of the given finger region and theportion of cavity 12 defined by the given finger region while exteriorsurface 70 faces away from the longitudinal axis of the given fingerregion and the portion of cavity 12 defined by the given finger region.Exterior surface 70 of a given band is in contact with and secured tothe interior surface 66 of a given band segment 58.

Each band 60 is curved as viewed from above or parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the given finger region so that interior surface 72is concavely curved and exterior surface 70 is convexly curved as soviewed. Each band 60 is thus configured to partially wrap around theback of a given finger of a person wearing glove 50 with the giveninterior surface 72 contacting the back of the given finger. Thisconfiguration helps prevent glove 50 from sliding off of the person'shand, especially when worn over an extended period of time. Each band 60in the sample embodiment extends only along the finger back 54 of agiven finger region, and thus no portion of band 60 extends along thefinger front 52 of the given finger region. The band regions 58 stretchor elongate when the user bend their finger regions 14-22 andelastically returns to the region's original configuration when thefinger region 14-22 is straightened. Band regions 58 aid in reducing theforces applied to the finger regions 14-22 and thus tend to reduce thedegree to which the finger regions may stretch over time.

As with the multilayer version of glove 1 in FIG. 3 , where additionallayers are used for glove 50 as shown in FIG. 6 , the second orintermediate layer 34 has interior and exterior surfaces 38 and 40, andthe exterior or third layer 36 has interior and exterior surfaces 42 and44. Interior surface 38 of layer 34 is in contact with and secured toexterior surface 28 of first layer 32, while interior surface 42 ofthird layer 36 is in contact with and secured to exterior surface 40 ofsecond layer 34. Thus, exterior surface 44 of layer 36 serves as theexterior surface 28A of glove 50 when formed of these three layers.Interior surface 30 in either case defines cavity 12 and extends fromadjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as the interior surfaceof wrist region 2, palm region 4 and each of the finger regions 14-22.Where the single layer 32 is used as shown in FIG. 2 , exterior surface28 extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as theexterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4, and finger regions14-22. Where the three layers are used as shown in FIG. 3 , exteriorsurface 44 or 28A extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 andserves as the exterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4, andfinger regions 14-22.

Peripheral wall 62 is formed entirely from layer 32 in a single layerversion of glove 50 (FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and may be formed by a plurality oflayers, such as layers 32, 34 and 36 in a multilayer version of glove 50(FIGS. 4 and 6 ). Thus, for the single layer version or multilayerversion, interior surface 30 includes a finger region interior surfaceor peripheral wall interior surface 74 of a given finger region 14-22 orperipheral wall 62. For the single layer version, exterior surface 28includes a finger region exterior surface or peripheral wall exteriorsurface 76 of a given finger region 14-22 or peripheral wall 62. For themultilayer version, exterior surface 28A/44 includes a finger regionexterior surface or peripheral wall exterior surface 76 of a givenfinger region 14-22 or peripheral wall 62.

Layers 32, 34 and 36 of glove 50 are formed of the same materials asnoted above with respect to glove 1, and each band 60 is formed of anitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfurand/or accelerators. Thus, layer 32 and bands 60 provide the samehypoallergenic qualities noted above.

Referring now to FIG. 7 , a glove 80 is shown that is a hand-specificglove. In particular, FIG. 7 shows a left-handed glove although it willbe understood that FIG. 7 should likewise represent a right-handed gloveinasmuch as a right-handed glove is a mirror image of that shown in FIG.7 . Thus, glove 80 is configured such that the four finger regions 16,18, 20 and 22 may be aligned along a common plane whereas thumb region14 is spaced from said plane. Glove 80 includes a wrist region 2, a palmregion 4, and a digit region 6 that includes five finger regionscomprising a thumb region 14, index finger region 16, middle fingerregion 18, ring finger region 20 and little finger region 22. FIG. 7also shows that each of finger regions 14-22 has a base 24 and a tip 25and is secured to palm region 4 as described with respect to glove 1.Glove 80 has a front or front side 81 (or palm side) and a back or backside 83.

Each of finger regions 14-22 has a finger front 52 and a finger back 54.The finger fronts 52 of finger regions 16-22 generally face in the samedirection and that the finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22 facegenerally in the same direction and the opposite direction as fingerfronts 52 thereof. On the other hand, the finger front 52 of thumbregion 14 faces in a different direction than that of the finger fronts52 of the index, middle, ring and the little finger regions 16-22 andthe finger back 54 of thumb region 14 likewise faces in a differentdirection than that of finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22. Eachfinger region 14-22 is formed of a peripheral wall 62 that defines therespective finger front and back 52 and 54.

Each of finger regions 14-22 has a finger base region 82 having a bottom84 adjacent the respective base 24 and a top 86. Each of finger regions14-22 has a fingertip region 88 that extends upwardly from thecorresponding base region 82 to adjacent the corresponding tip 25. Eachfingertip region 88 has a bottom 90 at or adjacent the corresponding top86 and a top 92 at or adjacent the corresponding tip 25. Fingertipregions 88 may include fingertip region 88A of thumb region 14,fingertip region 88B of index finger region 16, fingertip region 88C ofmiddle finger region 18, fingertip region 88D of ring finger region 20,and fingertip region 88E of little finger region 22.

In the sample embodiment, the fingertip region bottom 90 and finger basetop 86 of a given finger region 14-22 is spaced downwardly a distancefrom the fingertip region top 92 and tip 25 of the given finger region,for instance, about ½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch. Thus, eachfingertip region 88 may have a height from bottom 90 to top 92 of about½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1, or 1¼ inch. Each finger base region 82 andfingertip region typically extends along the finger front 52 of thegiven finger region and may also extend along the corresponding fingerback 54.

Whereas gloves 1 and 50 typically have an exterior surface that issmooth in its entirety, glove 80 may have an exterior surface that mayhave smooth portions and textured portions. In the sample embodiment,the exterior surface of glove 80 has one or more smooth exteriorsurfaces 94, one or more lighter textured exterior surfaces 96 that arecoarser than smooth surface 94, and one or more even coarser texturedexterior surfaces 98 that are coarser than smooth surface 94 and lightertextured surface 96. Fingertip region 88B of index finger region 16 andfingertip region 88C of middle finger region 18 may have smooth exteriorsurfaces 94 that extend from adjacent the corresponding bottom 90 toadjacent the corresponding top 92. Bottom 90 is located in a region thatmay be approximately positioned adjacent a front of the first knuckle ona user's hand. Smooth surface 94 extends from top 92 of index fingerregion 52 and middle finger region 54 downwardly for approximately athird of the total length of index finger region 52 and middle fingerregion 54. (The length will be understood to extend from the tip of anyparticular finger region to the palm region of the glove.) Smoothsurface 94 may be confined to extend only along the given finger front52 or may also extend along the given finger back 54.

Fingertip region 88A of thumb region 14, fingertip region 88D of ringfinger region 20 and fingertip region 88E of little finger region 22 mayhave coarser textured exterior surfaces 98 that extend from adjacent thecorresponding bottom 90 to adjacent the corresponding top 92. Coarsertextured surface 98 may be confined to extend only along the givenfinger front 52 or may also extend along the given finger back 54.

The finger base region 82 of each of thumb region 14, index fingerregion 16, middle finger region 18, ring finger region 20 and littlefinger region 22 may have lighter textured exterior surfaces 96 thatextend from adjacent the corresponding bottom 84 to adjacent thecorresponding top 86. Lighter textured surface 96 may be confined toextend only along the given finger front 52 or may also extend along thegiven finger back 54.

Wrist region 2 and palm region 4 may have lightly textured exteriorsurfaces 96 that extend only along front side 81 of glove 80 or whichmay also extend along back side 83. Lightly textured exterior surface 96may extend along the entirety of wrist region 2 along front side 81 andmay extend along the entirety of wrist region 2 along back side 83.Lightly textured exterior surface 96 may extend along the entirety ofpalm region 4 along front side 81 and may extend along the entirety ofpalm region 4 along back side 83. Typically, lightly textured exteriorsurface 96 extends from adjacent the top of wrist region 2 to adjacentthe base 24 of each of finger regions 14-22 along front side 81.

As with the multilayer version of glove 1 in FIG. 3 and glove 50 in FIG.6 , where additional layers are used for glove 80 as shown in FIG. 9 ,the second or intermediate layer 34 has interior and exterior surfaces38 and 40, and the exterior or third layer 36 has interior and exteriorsurfaces 42 and 44. Interior surface 38 of layer 34 is in contact withand secured to exterior surface 28 of first layer 32, while interiorsurface 42 of third layer 36 is in contact with and secured to exteriorsurface 40 of second layer 34. Thus, exterior surface 44 of layer 36serves as the exterior surface 28A of glove 80 when formed of thesethree layers. Interior surface 30 in either case defines cavity 12 andextends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as theinterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4 and each of the fingerregions 14-22. Where the single layer 32 is used as shown in FIG. 8 ,exterior surface 28 extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8and serves as the exterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4, andfinger regions 14-22. Where the three layers are used as shown in FIG. 9, exterior surface 44 or 28A extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacenttop 8 and serves as the exterior surface of wrist region 2, palm region4, and finger regions 14-22.

Peripheral wall 62 is formed entirely from layer 32 in a single layerversion of glove 80 (FIGS. 7 and 8 ) and may be formed by a plurality oflayers, such as layers 32, 34 and 36 in a multilayer version of glove 80(FIGS. 7 and 9 ). Exterior surface 28 in the single layer version thusincludes the smooth, lighter textured and coarser textured surfaces 94,96 and 98, whereas exterior surface 28A/44 in the multilayer versionincludes the smooth, lighter textured and coarser textured surfaces 94,96 and 98. Layers 32, 34, and 36 of glove 80 are formed of the samematerials as noted above with respect to glove 1 so that layer 32provides the same hypoallergenic qualities noted above. The texturedsurfaces provided on glove 80 may be provided on regions of glove 80that will be contacted when an article is gripped when glove 80 is wornby a user. The textured surfaces will, thus, enhance the grippingability of the user and reduce the tendency for objects to slip whenbeing held by the user when wearing glove 80.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 10B there is shown a fourth embodiment of aglove in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, generallyindicated at 100. Glove 100 includes a wrist region 102, a palm region104, a thumb region 106, an index finger region 108, a middle fingerregion 110, a ring finger region 112, and a little finger region 114.Glove 100 is illustrated as a hand-specific glove but the sameprinciples as will be discussed hereafter may be incorporated into anambidextrous glove.

Glove 100 may be substantially identical to any of the gloves 1, 50, or80 except that at least the fingertip region 108 a, 110 a of the indexfinger region 108 and the middle finger region 110 are fabricated to beof a smaller circumference and diameter than are the fingertip regionsof the index finger regions and middle finger regions of any of theother glove embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally the fingertipregions 108 a, 110 a of the index and ring finger regions 108, 110 areof a smaller circumference and diameter than a circumference of theremaining portion of the respective one of the index and middle fingerregions 108, 110. The remaining portion of each of these two fingerregions is represented by the reference numbers 108 c and 110 c,respectively in FIG. 10 . It should be noted that a step-down region 113(FIG. 10C) is provided between the circumference of each of theremaining portion 108 c, 110 c and the associated smaller circumferenceof the fingertip region 108 a, 110 a. The step-down region 113 is aregion that tapers in circumference from the circumference of theremaining portion 108 c, 110 c to the smaller or reduced circumferenceof the associated fingertip region 108 a, 110 a.

Furthermore, the fingertip regions 108 a, 110 a are smaller in diameterand circumference than the ring finger region 112, little finger region114 and thumb region 106 of glove 100. The circumference of thefingertip regions 108 a, 110 a is measured around an exterior surface ofthe respective index finger region 108 or middle finger region 110 andin an orientation at right angles to the length of the respective fingerregion 108 or 110. The length is measured from a tip of the respectivefinger region down to the palm region 104. The reduced or smallerdimensions (i.e., circumference and diameter) ensure that the glovematerial in each fingertip region 108 a, 110 a is pulled tightly aroundthe user's index and middle fingers. The tightly pulled material or filmof glove 100 ensures that the user can more easily and readily locate afaint pulse in a patient than if the glove material was only fittedloosely around these two fingertips.

The dimensions of the fingertip region 108 a of the index finger regionand the fingertip region 110 a of the middle finger region 110 may bereduced or smaller by from about 1% up to about 15% relative to theremaining portion of that particular finger region 108 or 110, and tothe other finger regions 112, 114 and thumb region 106 in glove 100, orto the finger regions of any of the other embodiments of the glove, andrelative to finger regions in prior art gloves. In particular, thefingertip regions 108 a and 110 a may be reduced or smaller by fromabout 3% up to about 10% relative to the remaining portion of theassociated finger region 108, 110. This reduction in the dimensions ofthe fingertip regions helps ensure that the glove film/material isstretched to the point that the film/material fits tightly against theuser's index and middle fingers. The film needs to be pulled tightenough to ensure that even a faint pulse may be detected through thefilm but the film should not be stretched so tight that the gloves arerestrictive or uncomfortable to wear.

Instead of just the fingertip regions 108 a, 110 a being of a smallerdiameter “D1” and circumference “C1” relative to the fingertip regionsof the other finger regions of the gloves disclosed herein,substantially all of the fingertip regions of the finger regions onglove 100 (including the thumb region 106, ring finger region 112 andlittle finger region 114) may be fabricated to be of a reduced orsmaller diameter and circumference relative to the remaining portions ofthose finger regions. Still further, instead of just the fingertipregions 108 a, 110 a being of smaller diameter and circumference, theentire index finger region 108 and entire middle finger region 110 maybe fabricated to have smaller dimensions relative to the index fingerregion and middle finger regions of the other embodiments of the glovedisclosed herein and relative to the ring finger region 112, littlefinger region 114 and thumb region 106 of glove 100. In other words, theindex finger region 108 and 110 may be of smaller diameter andcircumference along substantially the entire length thereof from thepalm region to the tip of the respective finger region instead of onlybeing smaller in dimension along the fingertip region 108 a or 110 a.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 10A, there is shown a cross-section throughfingertip region 108 a of index finger region 108. Fingertip region 108a is shown to have a circumference “C1” measured around an exteriorsurface of the fingertip region 108 a; and a diameter “D1”. Thecircumference “C1” is of such a size that when glove 100 is donned, thefingertip region 108 a will be smaller than the circumference anddiameter of the user's finger that is received in the interior cavity108 b thereof. Because of this reduced or smaller circumference “C1”,the film of index finger region 108 may tend to be pulled tightly aroundthe user's finger as the material thereof stretches to allow of theuser's index finger to enter into the interior 108 b thereof. Because ofthe stretching of the film of fingertip region 108 a to accommodate theuser's index finger, the thickness of the wall of fingertip region 108 awill be reduced or smaller to a thickness “T1.” (A similar situationexists with fingertip region 110 a when the user's middle finger isinserted into the interior 110 b therein.)

FIG. 10B shows a cross-section through the wider part 108 c of the indexfinger region 108. This wider part 108 c is located below the fingertipregion 108 a. The circumference of the wider part 108 c is greater thanthe circumference “C1” of the fingertip region 108 a and is indicated inFIG. 10B as circumference “C2”. The wider part 108 c is of a diameter“D2” that is greater than the diameter “D1” of fingertip region 108 a.The circumference “C2” is of a size that will be greater than thediameter of a user's index finger that will be received into theinterior 108 b of index finger region 108. The thickness “T2” of thewall of wider part 108 c is greater than the thickness “T1” of the wallof fingertip region 108 a. The thinner wall thickness “T1” of indexfinger region 108 ensures that the material of the fingertip region 108a is pulled tighter around the tip of the user's finger than is thematerial along the rest of the length of the wider part 108 b.

FIG. 10 also shows that fingertip region 110 a of middle finger region110 is also of a circumference “C1” and that the rest of middle fingerregion 110 is of a circumference “C2”. Fingertip region 110 a of middlefinger region 110 is also of a diameter “D1” (FIG. 10A) and the rest ofmiddle finger region 110 is of a diameter “D2” (FIG. 10B). Ring fingerregion 112 is of a substantially constant circumference “C2” anddiameter “D2” along substantially its entire length. Similarly, littlefinger region 114 is of a substantially constant circumference “C2” anddiameter “D2” along substantially its entire length.

It should be noted that the first circumference “C1” and first diameter“D1” of fingertip region 108 a of index finger region 108 and fingertipregion 110 a of middle finger region 110 are of a size that causes thefingertip regions 108 a and 110 a to be pulled tightly around the tipsof a person's index finger and middle finger when the glove is worn. Thereduced or smaller diameter “D1” and circumference “C1” of fingertipregions 108 a and 110 a also is of a size that will result in pressurebeing applied to the tips of the person's index finger and middlefinger. Glove 10 may apply some pressure to the user's hand because ofthe diameter (and associated circumference) of wrist region 2, palmregion 4 and the wider regions (“D2”/“C2”) of index finger region 108,middle finger region 110, ring finger region 112 and little fingerregion 114. However, the smaller dimensions (“D1”/“C1”) of fingertipregions 108 a, 110 a applies even greater pressure to the tips of theuser's index finger and middle finger. The degree of pressure applied byfingertip regions 108 a, 110 a aids in ensuring that the tactilesensitivity of the user's fingers is not lost because the user iswearing a glove.

It will be understood that only one or the other of the fingertipregions 108 a, 110 a may be fabricated so as to have these reduced orsmaller dimensions “D1”/“C1”, if that is desired.

Glove 100 may be used while taking a patient's pulse by providing glove100 that comprises wrist region 102, palm region 104; thumb region 106,index finger region 108, middle finger region 110, ring finger region112 and little finger region 114; wherein the fingertip region 108 a ofindex finger region 108 is of a first circumference “C1” and a firstdiameter “D1”; and wherein a remaining portion of the index fingerregion from below fingertip region 108 a to palm region 104 is of asecond circumference “C2” and a second diameter “D2”; and wherein thefirst circumference “C1” is smaller than the second circumference “C2”and the first diameter “D1” is smaller than the second diameter “D2”;inserting a user's hand into glove 100; said step of inserting includinginserting the user's index finger into index finger region 108 of glove100; pulling material of fingertip region 108 a of index finger region108 tightly over the tip of user's index finger; applying (inwardlydirected) pressure to the tip of the user's index finger as the materialof glove 100 is pulled tightly over the tip of the user's index finger;placing the tip of the user's index finger on a pulse point of apatient's body and detecting the patient's blood pressure through thefingertip region 108 a of the index finger region 108 of glove 100. Asimilar pressure may be applied to the user's middle finger by fingertipregion 110 a where fingertip region 110 a is similarly dimensioned tofingertip region 108 a.

FIG. 10 shows that fingertip regions 108 a, 110 a are smooth or free oftexture, i.e., untextured, thereby hindering the tactile sensitivity ofthe user's fingertips on their index and middle fingers to a lesserextent than if the fingertip regions 108 a, 110 a were textured. FIG.10C is a front elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the glove. Inthis instance, the glove 100 is an ambidextrous glove instead of ahand-specific glove. It will be understood that the rear elevation viewof this glove will be a mirror image of what is illustrated in FIG. 10C.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 12 , there is shown other examples of aglove in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, generallyindicated at 116. Glove 116 includes a wrist region 118, a palm region120, a thumb region 122, an index finger region 124, a middle fingerregion 125, a ring finger region 128, and a little finger region 120.Glove 116 is illustrated as a hand-specific glove but the sameprinciples as will be discussed hereafter may be incorporated into anambidextrous glove.

Glove 116 may be substantially identical to any of the gloves 1, 50, 80,or 100 particularly as relating to the shape and features of thesegloves. Glove 116 differs from the other gloves disclosed herein in thatsubstantially the entire front surface of the glove, i.e., the grippingsurfaces thereof, is textured except for the smooth and untexturedfingertip regions 124 a and 125 a in index finger region 124 and middlefinger region 125. The rear surface and/or side surfaces of the glove116 may also be textured if that is desired or if the glove is anambidextrous glove.

The texture pattern utilized in glove 116 has been found to be mostadvantageous if the pattern is a diamond pattern, such as the patternshown in FIGS. 12 and 13 . The illustrated diamond pattern allows forbetter gripping ability when wearing glove 116 because of the additionalfriction provided by the raised diamond shapes on the glove's exteriorsurface. The diamond shapes in the pattern also effectively andefficiently wick water and other liquids away from the glove's exteriorsurface. This again improves the gripping ability of the exteriorsurface of the glove 116. It will be understood that instead of using adiamond pattern, other patterns may be utilized on glove 116.

FIG. 11A shows a front elevation view of another example of the glove116 except that, in this instance, the glove 116 is an ambidextrousglove. It will therefore be understood that the rear elevation view ofglove 116 will be a mirror image of what is illustrated in FIG. 11A.FIG. 11A also shows the same diamond pattern texturing the exteriorsurface of glove 116 that is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 .

FIGS. 14A to 14E show a sixth embodiment of a glove 217. Glove 217 isillustrated as a hand-specific glove that includes a wrist region 202,palm region 204, thumb region 206, index finger region 208, middlefinger region 210, ring finger region 212, and little finger region 214.FIGS. 14A to 14E show exemplary hand-specific gloves 217 that havefingertip regions 206 a, 208 a, 210 a, 212 a, 214 a that are generallyof the same circumference as a remaining portion of the associated thumbregion 206, index finger region 208, middle finger region 210, ringfinger region 212, or little finger region 214. Collectively, each ofthese gloves 217 may be considered to be an example of a glove inaccordance with the present disclosure having one or more fingertipregions that are smooth (i.e., free of texture) and the rest of theglove is textured.

FIG. 14A shows glove 217 having a fingertip region 208 a on index fingerregion 208 that is smooth. The rest of the glove 210 may be textured.

FIG. 14B shows glove 217A having a fingertip region 208 a, 210 a on eachof index finger region 208 and middle finger region 210 that is smooth.The rest of glove 217 may be textured. (The same glove is also shown inFIG. 11 ).

FIG. 14C shows glove 217B having a fingertip region 206 a, 208 a, 210 aon each of thumb region 206, index finger region 208, and middle fingerregion 210 that is smooth. The rest of glove 217 may be textured.

FIG. 14D shows glove 217C having a fingertip region 206 a, 208 a, 210 a,212 a on each of thumb region 206, index finger region 208, middlefinger region 210, and ring finger region 212 and all of these fingertipregions are smooth. The rest of glove 217 may be textured. It will beunderstood that in other exemplary gloves, the fingertip region 214 a oflittle finger region 214 may be smooth instead of fingertip region 212 aof ring finger region 212 and the rest of glove 217 including ringfinger region 212 may be textured. It should further be understood thatany four of the five fingertip regions 206 a, 208 a, 210 a, 212 a, or214 a may be textured while the fifth fingertip region may be untexturedalong with the rest of glove 217.

FIG. 14E shows glove 217D having a fingertip region 206 a, 208 a, 210 a,212 a, 214 a on each of thumb region 206, index finger region 208,middle finger region 210, ring finger region 212, and little fingerregions 214 and all of these fingertip regions are smooth. The rest ofglove 217 may be textured.

It will be understood that the smooth or untextured portion of thefingertip region(s) on the gloves of FIGS. 14A to 14E may be provided onthat part of the fingertip region that would typically come into contactwith objects if the user was holding the object in a gloved hand. Inother examples, substantially the entire circumferential surface of therespective fingertip region may be smooth.

It will further be understood that only the front surface of the gloves217 to 217D may be textured, i.e., that surface that will be adjacentthe palm of the user's hand. The back surface, i.e., that surface thatis adjacent the back of the user's hand may be textured or free oftexture.

FIGS. 15A to 15E show a sixth embodiment of a glove 317. Glove 317 isillustrated as a hand-specific glove that includes a wrist region 302,palm region 304, thumb region 306, index finger region 308, middlefinger region 310, ring finger region 312, and little finger region 314.The lower ends of thumb region 306, index finger region 308, middlefinger region 310, ring finger region 312, and little finger region 314join an upper end of palm region 304. Gloves 317 shown in FIGS. 15A to15E have fingertip regions 306 a, 308 a, 310 a, 312 a, 314 a that aregenerally of the same circumference as the remaining portion of theassociated thumb region 306, index finger region 308, middle fingerregion 310, ring finger region 312, or little finger region 314.Collectively, each of these gloves 317 shown in FIGS. 15A to 15E may beconsidered to be an example of a glove accordance with the presentdisclosure that includes one or more fingertip regions 306 a, 308 a, 310a, 312 a, or 314 a that are textured while the rest of the glove issmooth.

FIG. 15A shows glove 317 having a fingertip region 308 a on index fingerregion 308 that is textured. The rest of glove 317 may be smooth.

FIG. 15B shows glove 317A having a fingertip region 308 a, 310 a on eachof index finger region 308 and middle finger region 310 that istextured. The rest of glove 317A may be smooth.

FIG. 15C shows glove 317B having a fingertip region 306 a, 308 a, 310 aon each of the thumb region 306, index finger region 308, and middlefinger region 310 that is textured. The rest of glove 317B may besmooth. In particular, the gripping surfaces of fingertip regions 306 a,308 a, and 310 a may be textured. The remaining surfaces of fingertipregions 306 a, 308 a, and 310 a (such as the back surface thereof) otherthan the gripping surfaces may be smooth or untextured or they may betextured as desired.

Furthermore, the specific pattern of texturing shown on fingertipregions 306 a, 308 a, and 310 a is illustrated as a diamond pattern. Itwill be understood that other differently configured patterns may beused instead of the diamond pattern. The specific pattern selected maybe chosen based on the specific purpose or arena in which glove 317 isto be utilized.

FIG. 15D shows glove 317C having a fingertip region 306 a, 308 a, 310 a,312 a on each of thumb region 306, index finger region 308, middlefinger region 310, and ring finger region 312 and all of these fingertipregions are textured. The rest of glove 317C may be smooth. Although notillustrated herein, it will be understood that the fingertip region 314a on little finger region 314 may be textured instead of fingertipregion 312 a of ring finger region 312. Any four out of the fivefingertip regions 306 a, 308 a, 310 a, 312 a, 314 a of thumb region 306,index finger region 308, middle finger region 310, ring finger region312 and little finger region 314 may be textured and the fifth fingertipregion may be smooth along with the rest of glove 317C.

FIG. 15E shows glove 317D having a fingertip region 306 a, 308 a, 310 a,312 a, 314 a on each of thumb region 306, index finger region 308,middle finger region 310, ring finger region 312 and little fingerregion 314 and all of these fingertip regions may be textured. The restof glove 317D may be smooth.

It will further be understood that the textured portion of the fingertipregion(s) 306 a, 308 a, 310 a, 312 a, 314 a may be provided on that partof the fingertip region that would typically come into contact withobject if held in a gloved-hand. In other examples, substantially theentire circumferential surface of the fingertip region may be textured.

The texturing on one or more fingertip regions 306 a, 308 a, 310 a, 312a, 314 a helps improve the gripping ability of the user's gloved hand.FIGS. 16A to 16C show a seventh embodiment of the glove 417. Glove 417is illustrated as a hand-specific glove that includes a wrist region402, palm region 404, thumb region 406, index finger region 408, middlefinger region 410, ring finger region 412, and little finger region 414.Gloves 417 shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C have fingertip regions 406 a, 408a, 410 a, 412 a, 414 a that are generally of the same circumference asthe remaining portion of the associated thumb region 406, index fingerregion 408, middle finger region 410, ring finger region 412, or littlefinger region 414. Collectively, each glove 417 may be considered to bean example of a glove in accordance with the present invention that mayinclude some fingertip regions that are smooth, other fingertip regionsthat may be provided with one or more different textures, while the restof the glove may be smooth or textured with a first texture or a secondtexture. FIGS. 16A through 16C are provided by way of example only toillustrate some of the numerous combinations of textured and smoothareas that may be provided on glove 417.

FIG. 16A shows glove 417 having a fingertip region 408 a on index fingerregion 408 that is provided with a first texture. The rest of glove 417is provided with a second texture.

FIG. 16B shows glove 417A having a fingertip region 406 a, 408 a, 410 a,on each of the thumb region 406, index finger region 408, and middlefinger region 410 that is provided with a first texture. The rest ofglove 417A is provided with a second texture.

FIG. 16C shows glove 417B having a fingertip region 406 a, 408 a, 410 aon each of the thumb region 406, index finger region 408, and middlefinger region 410 that is smooth. Fingertip regions 412 a on ring fingerregion 412 and little finger region 414 are provided with a firsttexture. The rest of glove 417B is provided with a second texture.

It should be noted that FIG. 7 , previously described herein, also showsa glove 80 that is of a similar type to those illustrated in FIGS. 16Ato 16C. Glove 80 has fingertip regions 88B, 88C on index finger region16 and middle finger region 18 that are smooth; the fingertip regions88A, 88D, 88E on thumb region 14, ring finger region 20, and littlefinger region 22 are provided with a first texture; and the rest of theglove is provided with a second texture. The smooth and texturedsurfaces shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C and FIG. 7 may be provided on onlythose areas of the gloves that will come into contact with an objectthat is held. The opposite surface of the glove (i.e., the back surfaceof the glove) may be smooth or textured in any desired manner.

FIGS. 17A to 17E show an eighth embodiment of a glove 517 in accordancewith the present disclosure. Glove 517 is illustrated as a hand-specificglove that includes a wrist region 502, palm region 504, thumb region506, index finger region 508, middle finger region 510, ring fingerregion 512, and little finger region 514. Collectively, each of thesegloves 517 shown in FIGS. 17A to 17E may be considered to be an exampleof a glove accordance with the present disclosure that includes one ormore fingertip regions 506 a, 508 a, 510 a, 512 a, 514 a that may be ofa smaller circumference than the circumference of the remaining portionof the associated thumb region 506, index finger region 508, middlefinger region 510, ring finger region 512, and little finger region 514.A step-down region 513 (FIGS. 17A, 17E) is provided between thecircumference of each of the remaining portions 506 c, 508 c, 510 c, 512c, 514 c and the associated smaller circumference of the fingertipregion 506 a, 508 a, 510 a, 512 a, 514 a.

One or more of the other fingertip regions 506 a, 508 a, 510 a, 512 a,514 a may be of generally a same circumference as the remaining portionof the associated thumb region 506, index finger region 508, middlefinger region 510, ring finger region 512, and little finger region 514;i.e., the other fingertip regions are not molded to be specificallynarrower so that they are thinned and pulled taut over the fingertipswhen the glove 517 is donned.

FIG. 17A shows glove 517 having a fingertip region 508 a on index fingerregion 508 that is of a smaller circumference than a remaining portion508 c of the index finger region 508. The fingertip region 508 a ofindex finger region 508 is smooth. The rest of glove 517 may betextured.

FIG. 17B shows glove 517A having a fingertip region 508 a, 510 a onindex finger region 508 and on middle finger region 510 that are of asmaller circumference than an associated remaining portion 508 c, 510 cof index finger region 508 and middle finger region 510. The fingertipregions 508 a, 510 a on index finger region 508 and middle finger region510 are smooth. The rest of glove 517A may be textured.

FIG. 17C shows glove 517B having fingertip regions 506 a, 508 a, 510 onthumb region 506, index finger region 508, and middle finger region 510that are of a smaller circumference than an associated remaining portion506 c, 508 c, 510 c of thumb region 506, index finger region 508, andmiddle finger region 510. The fingertip regions 506 a, 508 a, 510 a onthumb region 506, index finger region 508, and middle finger region 510are smooth. The rest of glove 517B may be textured.

FIG. 17D shows glove 517C having fingertip regions 506 a, 508 a, 510 a,512 a that are of a smaller circumference than an associated remainingportion 506 c, 508 c, 510 c, 512 c of the thumb region 506, index fingerregion 508, middle finger region 510, ring finger region 512. Thesefingertip regions are smooth while the rest of the glove (includingfingertip region 514 a) is textured. Although not illustrated herein, itwill be understood that fingertip region 514 a of little finger region514 may be of a smaller circumference that the remaining portion 514 cof little finger region 514 and that fingertip region 512 a may not beof a smaller circumference relative to remaining portion 512 c of ringfinger region. The four fingertip regions may be smooth while the restof the glove 517C may be textured.

FIG. 17E shows glove 517D having fingertip regions 506 a, 508 a, 510 a,512 a, 514 a on all five of the thumb region 506, index finger region508, middle finger region 510, ring finger region 512, and little fingerregion 514 that are of a smaller circumference than an associatedremaining portion 506 c, 508 c, 510 c, 512 c, 514 c of the associatedthumb region 506, index finger region 508, middle finger region 510,ring finger region 512, or little finger region 514. The fingertipregions may all be smooth. The rest of the glove 517D may be textured.

It will further be understood that the smooth portion of the fingertipregion(s) may be provided on only that part of the fingertip region thatwill come into contact with objects if held in a gloved hand, i.e., thefront surface of the fingertip regions. In other examples, substantiallythe entire circumferential surface of the fingertip region may besmooth.

It will be understood that in other exemplary gloves in accordance withthe present disclosure, the gloves may be substantially identical to thegloves shown in FIGS. 17A to 17E except that the smaller circumferencefingertip region(s) may be textured instead of being smooth; and therest of the glove may be smooth instead of being textured.

FIG. 18A shows a first example of a ninth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, generally indicatedas glove 617. Glove 617 is a hand-specific glove that includes a wristregion 602, palm region 604, thumb region 606, index finger region 608,middle finger region 610, ring finger region 612 and little fingerregion 614. Glove 617 has fingertip regions 606 a, 608 a, 610 a, 612 a,614 a. Fingertip region 608 a on index finger region 608 is of acircumference that is smaller than a circumference of an associatedremaining portion 608 c of index finger region 608. A step-down region613 is provided between the circumference of the remaining portions 608c and the associated smaller circumference of the fingertip region 608a. The fingertip regions 606 a, 610 a, 612 a, 614 a are of generally asame circumference as the remaining portions of the associated thumbregion 606, middle finger region 610, ring finger region 612 and littlefinger region 614.

In glove 617, the gripping surface of fingertip region 608 a of indexfinger region 608 is textured. The gripping surface of fingertip regionis that portion of the glove surface that would tend to typicallycontact an object if the user holds or picks up the object while wearingglove 617. The texturing on fingertip region 608 a helps a user tobetter grip articles and objects than if this fingertip region 608 a wassmooth. Because of the reduced or smaller circumference of fingertipregion 608 a relative to the remaining portion 608 c, the fingertipregion 608 a may tend to be thinned and pulled taut over a tip of theuser's index finger when glove 617 is donned. This means that tactilesensitivity is maintained in the user's index finger while the user'sgripping ability while wearing glove 617 is enhanced by the texturingprovided on fingertip region 608 a.

Furthermore, the specific pattern of texturing shown on fingertip region608 a is a diamond pattern. It will be understood that other differentlyconfigured patterns may be used instead of the diamond pattern. Thespecific pattern selected may be chosen based on the specific purpose orarena in which glove 617 is to be utilized.

FIG. 18B shows a glove 617A that is substantially identical to glove 617except that both of the fingertip regions 608 a, 610 a are of a reducedor smaller circumference relative to a remaining portion of index fingerregion 608 and middle finger region 610. The reduced or smallercircumference fingertip regions 608 a, 610 a are provided with a texturewhile the rest of glove 617A is smooth/non-textured.

FIG. 18C shows a glove 617B that is substantially identical to glove 617except that the fingertip regions 606 a, 608 a, 610 a of thumb region606, index finger region 608, and middle finger region 610 are of areduced or smaller circumference relative to a remaining portion ofthumb region 606, index finger region 608, and middle finger region 610.The reduced or smaller circumference fingertip regions 606 a, 608 a, 610a are provided with a texture while the rest of glove 617B issmooth/non-textured. Glove 617B is therefore substantially identical toglove 517B shown in FIG. 17C except for the location of the textured andsmooth areas.

FIG. 18D shows a glove 617C that is substantially identical to glove 617except that the fingertip regions 606 a, 608 a, 610 a, 612 a of thumbregion 606, index finger region 608, middle finger region 610, and ringfinger region 612 are of a reduced or smaller circumference relative toa remaining portion of thumb region 606, index finger region 608, middlefinger region 610, and ring finger region 612. The reduced or smallercircumference fingertip regions 606 a, 608 a, 610 a, 612 a are providedwith a texture while the rest of glove 617C is smooth/non-textured. Itwill be understood that fingertip region 614 a of little finger region614 may be fabricated to be of a reduced or smaller circumferencerelative to the associated remaining portion of little finger region 614instead of providing the reduced or smaller circumference fingertipregion 612 a. In this instance, fingertip region 614 a will be providedwith a texture. The rest of glove 617C will be smooth or non-textured.

FIG. 18E shows a glove 617D having five fingertip regions 606 a, 608 a,610 a, 612 a, and 614 a that are all textured and of a reduced orsmaller circumference relative to the remaining portions of thumb region606, index finger region 608, middle finger region 610, ring fingerregion 612, and ring finger region 614. The rest of glove 617D is smoothor non-textured. Although not specifically numbered, it will beunderstood that in each of the gloves illustrated in FIGS. 18B to 18E, astep-down region similar to step-down region 613 shown in FIG. 18A, maybe provided between the circumference of each of the remaining portions606 c, 610 c, 612 c, 614 c and any associated smaller circumference ofthe fingertip region 606 a, 610 a, 612 a, 614 a.

FIG. 19A to 19C show additional examples of the eighth embodiment ofgloves in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated asglove 717. Glove 717 is illustrated as a hand-specific glove thatincludes a wrist region 702, palm region 704, thumb region 706, indexfinger region 708, middle finger region 710, ring finger region 712, andlittle finger region 714. Collectively, each of the gloves shown inFIGS. 19A to 19C may be substantially identical to one of the gloves 517to 517D that are illustrated in one of FIGS. 17A to 17E except for thepositioning of various smooth and textured areas on the glove 717. FIGS.19A through 19C are provided as examples of utilizing differentcombinations of one or more smaller circumference fingertip regions,with none, one or more fingertip regions that are of generally the samecircumference as the circumference of associated remaining portions;along with utilizing smooth and/or textured areas. Gloves 717 mayinclude one or more fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a, 712 a, 714 athat are of a smaller circumference than the remaining portion of theassociated thumb region 706, index finger region 708, middle fingerregion 710, ring finger region 712, and little finger region 714. None,one, or more of fingertip regions 706 a through 714 a may be ofgenerally a same circumference as the associated remaining portion ofthe thumb region 706, index finger region 708, middle finger region 710,ring finger region 712, and little finger region 714. In each fingerregion or thumb region having a fingertip region that is of a reduced orsmaller circumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, a step-down region similar to region 613 (FIG. 18A) isprovided. One such exemplary step-down region 713 is identified in FIG.19B.

Gloves 717 may differ from gloves 517 in that they show differentexemplary combinations of smooth areas and areas that are provided witha first texture or with a second texture. (Even third or fourth texturesmay be utilized if desired.) The gloves illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19Bhave three fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a that are of a smallercircumference than the associated remaining portions 706 c, 708 c, 710c, while the other two fingertip regions 712 a, 714 a are ofsubstantially a same circumference as the associated remaining portions712 c, 714 c.

FIG. 19A shows glove 717 where each of the fingertip regions 706 a, 708a and 710 a of the thumb region 706, index finger region 708 and middlefinger region 710 are of a smaller circumference “C1” and diameterrelative to the circumference “C2” of a remaining portion 706 c, 708 c,and 710 c of the respective one of each of the thumb region 706, indexfinger region 708 and middle finger region 710. It will be understoodthat the circumferences of the reduced or smaller circumferencefingertip regions are indicated by the single reference number “C1” butthe use of the single reference number is not intended to imply that thecircumferences of these fingertip regions are all of the same size.Similarly, it should be understood that the circumferences of theremaining portions are indicated by the single reference number “C2” butthe use of the single reference number is also not meant to imply thatthe circumferences of the remaining portions are all of the same size.

The circumferences of the various fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a,712 a, 714 a are measured around an exterior surface of the respectivethumb region 706, index finger region 708, middle finger region 710,ring finger region 712, and little finger region 714. The circumferenceis measured at an orientation of right angles relative to a length ofthe respective thumb region or finger region 706, 708, 710. (The lengthof the thumb region or any finger region is measured from a tip of therespective thumb region or finger region down to palm region 704.) Itshould be understood that in all embodiments of the gloves disclosed inthis document, the circumferences of the fingertip regions and theremaining portions are measured in this same manner.

The reduced or smaller dimensions (i.e., circumference and diameter) offingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a may ensure that the material orfilm of each fingertip region 706 a, 708 a, and 710 a will tend tobecome thinner and be pulled tightly around the tips of the user'sthumb, index, and middle fingers, thus maintaining tactile sensitivitytherein.

FIG. 19A further illustrates that the smaller circumference fingertipregions 706 c, 708 c, 710 c are all smooth (i.e., free of texture).Fingertip regions 712 a, 714 a are not of a smaller circumference thanthe associated remaining portions 712 c, 714 c and fingertip regions 712a, 714 a are provided with a first texture. The rest of glove 717 isprovided with a second texture.

FIG. 19B shows a glove 717A that is substantially identical to glove 717except that the fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a are all providedwith a first texture and the rest of the glove 717 is provided with asecond texture. In particular, the gripping surfaces of fingertipregions 706 a, 708 a, and 710 a on glove 717A are textured with thefirst texture (in this instance a diamond pattern texture). The grippingsurfaces of the fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a are those portionsof the surface that would tend to typically contact an object if theuser holds or picks up the object while wearing glove 717A. The rest ofthe glove 717A, including the remaining portions of fingertip regions706 a, 708 a, 710 a may be textured with a sand-type texture. Thetexturing on fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a helps a user tobetter grip articles and objects than if the fingertip regions 706 a,708 a, 710 a were smooth. Because of the reduced or smallercircumferences of fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a the glovematerial in these regions may tend to be pulled thin and taut over a tipof the user's thumb or associated finger because these regions are undertension. The material on the rest of the glove is not thinned because itis not under tension. The thinning of the material aids in ensuring thattactile sensitivity is maintained in the thumb, index, and middlefingers while the user's gripping ability while wearing glove 717A isenhanced because of the texturing. The specific patterns selected forthe first texture and the second texture may be chosen based on thespecific purpose or arena in which glove 710 is to be utilized.

FIG. 19C shows a glove 717B where only a single fingertip region (706 aof index finger region 706) is of a smaller or reduced circumferencethan the circumference of the remaining portion 706 c thereof. The otherfour fingertip regions 708 a, 710 a, 712 a, 714 a are of the type thatis generally of a same circumference as the associated remainingportions 708 c, 710 c, 712 c, and 714 c. In this glove 717B, all of thefingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a, 712 a, 714 a are provided with afirst texture, while the rest of glove 717 is smooth.

Although not specifically illustrated herein, it will be understood thatin a similar fashion, only two smaller circumference fingertip regions,or four smaller circumference fingertip regions, or five smallercircumference fingertip regions may be provided on gloves 717, 717A,717B. The other fingertip regions may not be of the type that is of asmaller circumference relative to the associated remaining portion. Ineach instance, some or all of the smaller circumference fingertipregions may be smooth, while in other instances they may be texturedwith a first texture, a second texture, or even a third texture. Therest of the glove may be provided with various areas having a sametexture as the fingertip regions or a different texture relativethereto. Other areas may be smooth (particularly if some or all of thefingertip regions are textured). Any desired combination of smoothness,texturing with a first texture or with a second texture or with a thirdtexture may be utilized in glove 717, 717A, 717B in any combination withany number of smaller circumference or generally the same circumferencefingertip regions.

The dimensions of the fingertip regions 706 a, 708 a, 710 a may bereduced or made smaller by from about 1% up to about 20% (and preferablyfrom about 3% up to about 10%) relative to the associated remainingportion 710 and relative to the circumference of a fingertip region in astandard size gloves. This reduction in the dimensions of the fingertipregions helps ensure that the glove film/material is thinned andstretched to the point that the film/material fits tightly around thetips of the user's thumb, index and middle fingers. The film needs to bepulled tight enough to ensure that even a faint pulse may be detectedthrough the film but the film should not be stretched so tight that thegloves are restrictive or uncomfortable to wear. The tightly pulledmaterial or film will tend to apply pressure to the user's thumb orfingertip and ensures that the user can more easily and readily locateeven a faint pulse in a patient than if the glove material in thefingertip regions was only fitted loosely around the user's thumb orfingers. The tightly pulled material or film of thumb region 706 alsotends to help the user can more readily grasp and capture a section of apatient's skin between their thumb and index finger in order to locate avein when performing procedures such as inserting a catheter.

FIGS. 20A through 20E show an eleventh embodiment of a glove inaccordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 817.Glove 817 includes a wrist region 802, palm region 804, thumb region806, index finger region 808, middle finger region 810, ring fingerregion 812, and little finger region 814. Gloves 817 may include one ormore fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, 810 a, 812 a, 814 a that are of asmaller circumference than the remaining portion of the associated thumbregion 806, index finger region 808, middle finger region 810, ringfinger region 812, and little finger region 814. One or more of thefingertip regions 806 a through 814 a may not have a smallercircumference than the remaining portion of the associated thumb region806, index finger region 808, middle finger region 810, ring fingerregion 812, and little finger region 814.

Gloves 817 are substantially identical to gloves 517 shown in FIGS. 17Ato 17E except that instead of gloves 817 being hand-specific, the gloves817 are ambidextrous gloves. The smaller circumference fingertip regionson gloves 817 are smooth while the rest of glove 817 is textured.Because glove 817 is an ambidextrous glove, all of the thumb region 806,index finger region 808, middle finger region 810, ring finger region812 and little finger region 814 are aligned along a same plane. This isdifferent from the hand-specific gloves, such as glove 517 for example,where the index finger region 508, ring finger region 510, middle fingerregion 512, a little finger region 514 are all aligned along a sameplane but the thumb region 506 is located in a different plane.

FIG. 20A shows glove 817, where fingertip region 808 a is of a reducedcircumference relative to a remaining portion 808 c of the index fingerregion 808. All other fingertip regions 806 a, 810 a, 812 a, 814 a areof generally a same size as the remaining portions 806 c, 810 c, 812 c,and 814 c. Fingertip region 808 a is smooth while the rest of the glove817 is textured.

FIG. 20B shows glove 817A, where fingertip regions 808 a, 810 a are of areduced circumference relative to an associated remaining portion 808 c,810 c of the index finger region 808 and middle finger region 810. Allother fingertip regions 806 a, 812 a, 814 a are of generally a same sizeas the remaining portions 806 c, 812 c, and 814 c. Fingertip regions 808a, 810 a are smooth while the rest of the glove 817A is textured.Fingertip regions 808 a, 810 a therefore have a different appearance tothe rest of glove 817A.

FIG. 20C shows glove 817B, where fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, 810 aare of a reduced circumference relative to an associated remainingportion 806 c, and 808 c, 810 c of the thumb region 806, index fingerregion 808, and middle finger region 810. All other fingertip regions812 a, 814 a are of generally a same size as the remaining portions 812c, 814 c. Fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, 810 a are smooth while therest of the glove 817B is textured. In particular, FIG. 20C shows thatwrist region 802, palm region 804, ring finger region 812, little fingerregion 814 and remaining portions 806 c, 808 c, and 810 c of thumbregion 806, index finger region 808, and middle finger region 810,respectively, are textured. Fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, and 810 a ofthumb region 806, index finger region 808, and middle finger region 810are free of texture.

It should be noted that because glove 8178 is an ambidextrous glove, thefront surface and the back surface of each of the wrist region 802, palmregion 804, ring finger region 812, little finger region 814 andremaining portions 806 c, 808 c, and 810 c of thumb region 806, indexfinger region 808, and middle finger region 810, may all be textured.Similarly, front and back surfaces of fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a,and 810 a may be smooth or free of texture. The same pattern of texturedand smooth areas on the front and back surfaces ensures that glove 817may be used as an ambidextrous glove on either of the left hand or theright hand of the user.

Furthermore, the reduced or smaller circumferences of fingertip regions806 a, 808 a, 810 a relative to the remaining portions 806 c, 808 c, and810 c may tend to cause the material of these regions to be pulled thinand taut over a tip of the user's thumb or associated finger, therebyapplying pressure thereto. This means that tactile sensitivity ismaintained in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The smooth,untextured surfaces on fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, 810 a helps toensure that medical personnel may readily be able to detect a patient'spulse, even if that pulse is faint.

The specific pattern of texturing shown on the reminder of glove 817B,i.e., on regions other than fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, and 810 a,is illustrated as being a diamond pattern. It will be understood thatother differently configured patterns may be used instead of the diamondpattern. The specific pattern selected may be chosen based on thespecific purpose or arena in which glove 817 is to be utilized.

FIG. 20D shows glove 817C, where fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, 810 a,812 a are of a reduced circumference relative to an associated remainingportion 806 c, 808 c, 810 c, 812 c of the thumb region 806, index fingerregion 808, middle finger region 810, and ring finger region 812.Fingertip region 814 a is of generally a same size as the remainingportions 814 c. Fingertip regions 806 a, 808 a, 810 a, 812 a are smoothwhile the rest of the glove 817C is textured. In other exemplary gloves,instead of fingertip region 812 a being of a reduced circumference, thefingertip region 814 a is of a reduced circumference relative toremaining portion 814 c and the fingertip region 812 a is of a generallysame circumference as remaining portion 812 c. In this instance,fingertip region 814 a may be smooth and the rest of glove 817Dincluding fingertip region 812 a may be textured.

FIG. 20E shows glove 817D, where all five fingertip regions 806 a, 808a, 810 a, 812 a, 814 a are of a reduced circumference relative to anassociated remaining portion 806 c, 808 c, 810 c, 812 c, 814 a of thethumb region 806, index finger region 808, middle finger region 810,ring finger region 812, and little finger region 814. Fingertip regions806 a, 808 a, 810 a, 812 a, 814 a may be smooth while the rest of theglove 817D is textured.

In each finger region or thumb region of the gloves illustrated in FIGS.20A to 20E having a fingertip region that is of a reduced or smallercircumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, a step-down region similar to region 613 (FIG. 18A) isprovided. One such exemplary step-down region 813 is identified in FIG.20A.

FIGS. 21A through 21E show a twelfth embodiment of a glove in accordancewith the present disclosure, generally indicated at 917. Glove 917includes a wrist region 902, palm region 904, thumb region 906, indexfinger region 908, middle finger region 910, ring finger region 912, andlittle finger region 914. Gloves 917 may include one or more fingertipregions 906 a, 908 a, 910 a, 912 a, 914 a that are of a smallercircumference than the remaining portion of the associated thumb region906, index finger region 908, middle finger region 910, ring fingerregion 912, and little finger region 914. One or more of the fingertipregions 906 a through 914 a may not have a smaller circumference thanthe remaining portion of the associated thumb region 906, index fingerregion 908, middle finger region 910, ring finger region 912, and littlefinger region 914.

Gloves 917 are substantially identical to the gloves shown in FIGS. 20Ato 20E except that the smaller circumference fingertip regions aretextured and the rest of glove is smooth.

FIG. 21A shows glove 917, where fingertip region 908 a is of a reducedcircumference relative to a remaining portion 908 c of the index fingerregion 908. All other fingertip regions 906 a, 910 a, 912 a, 914 a areof generally a same size as the remaining portions 906 c, 910 c, 912 c,and 914 c. Fingertip region 908 a is textured while the rest of theglove 917 is smooth or non-textured.

FIG. 21B shows glove 917A, where fingertip regions 908 a, 910 a are of areduced circumference relative to an associated remaining portion 908 c,910 c of the index finger region 908 and middle finger region 910. Allother fingertip regions 906 a, 912 a, 914 a are of generally a same sizeas the remaining portions 906 c, 912 c, and 914 c. Fingertip regions 908a, 910 a are textured while the rest of the glove 917A is smooth ornon-textured.

FIG. 21C shows glove 917B, where fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a, 910 aare of a reduced circumference relative to an associated remainingportion 906 c, and 908 c, 910 c of the thumb region 906, index fingerregion 908, and middle finger region 910. All other fingertip regions912 a, 914 a are of generally a same size as the remaining portions 912c, 914 c. Fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a, 910 a are textured while therest of the glove 9178 is smooth or non-textured. In particular, FIG.21C shows that wrist region 902, palm region 904, ring finger region912, little finger region 914 and remaining portions 906 c, 908 c, and910 c of thumb region 906, index finger region 908, and middle fingerregion 910, respectively, are smooth. Fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a,and 910 a of thumb region 906, index finger region 908, and middlefinger region 910 are textured.

It should be noted that because glove 917B is an ambidextrous glove, thefront surface and the back surface of each of the wrist region 902, palmregion 904, ring finger region 912, little finger region 914 andremaining portions 906 c, 908 c, and 910 c of thumb region 906, indexfinger region 908, and middle finger region 910, may all be smooth ornon-textured. Similarly, front and back surfaces of fingertip regions906 a, 908 a, and 910 a may be textured. The same pattern of texturedand smooth areas on the front and back surfaces of any of the gloves 917to 917D may be used as an ambidextrous glove on either of the left handor the right hand of the user.

Furthermore, the reduced or smaller circumferences of fingertip regions906 a, 908 a, 910 a relative to the remaining portions 906 c, 908 c, and910 c may tend to cause the material of these regions to be pulled thinand taut over a tip of the user's thumb or associated finger, therebyapplying pressure thereto. This means that tactile sensitivity ismaintained in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The texturedsurfaces on fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a, 910 a helps to ensure thatmedical personnel may readily be able to grip onto objects to be held,such as a patient's skin when try to find a vein.

The texturing shown on glove 917B, is illustrated as being a diamondpattern. It will be understood that other differently configuredpatterns may be used instead of the diamond pattern. The specificpattern selected may be chosen based on the specific purpose or arena inwhich glove 917B is to be utilized.

FIG. 21D shows glove 917C, where fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a, 910 a,912 a are of a reduced circumference relative to an associated remainingportion 906 c, 908 c, 910 c, 912 c of the thumb region 906, index fingerregion 908, middle finger region 910, and ring finger region 912.Fingertip region 914 a is of generally a same size as the remainingportions 914 c. Fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a, 910 a, 912 a aretextured while the rest of the glove 917C is smooth or non-textured. Inother exemplary gloves, instead of fingertip region 912 a being of areduced circumference, the fingertip region 914 a is of a reducedcircumference relative to remaining portion 914 c and the fingertipregion 912 a is of a generally same circumference as remaining portion912 c. In this instance, fingertip region 914 a may be textured and therest of glove 917D including fingertip region 912 a may be smooth ornon-textured.

FIG. 21E shows glove 917D, where all five fingertip regions 906 a, 908a, 910 a, 912 a, 914 a are of a reduced circumference relative to anassociated remaining portion 906 c, 908 c, 910 c, 912 c, 914 a of thethumb region 906, index finger region 908, middle finger region 910,ring finger region 912, and little finger region 914. Fingertip regions906 a, 908 a, 910 a, 912 a, 914 a may be textured while the rest of theglove 917D is smooth or non-textured.

Furthermore, as indicated above, the reduced or smaller circumferencesof one or more of fingertip regions 906 a, 908 a, 910 a, 912 a, 914 amay cause the material of the glove tend to be thinned and pulled tautover a tip of the user's thumb or associated finger. When fingertipregions are pulled taut in this manner they tend to apply pressure tothe associated thumb or finger in that part of glove. This means thattactile sensitivity is maintained in the thumb or associated fingers andthe user's gripping ability while wearing glove 917 is enhanced by thetexture applied to reduced circumference fingertip regions. The textureon fingertip regions helps to ensure that medical personnel may readilybe readily grip objects while tactile sensitivity in their thumb andfingers (particularly the index and middle fingers) is maintained. Thistype of glove 917 to 917D is also useful in other fields. For example,the glove may be worn by gun enthusiasts where the textured fingertipregion 908 a, in particular, helps maintain contact with a trigger, forexample, but also provides tactile sensitivity to the user.

The specific pattern of texturing shown on the fingertip regions isillustrated as a sand finish or sand texturing. It will be understoodthat other differently configured patterns may be used instead, such asa diamond pattern. The specific pattern selected may be chosen based onthe specific purpose or arena in which glove 917 is to be utilized.

In each finger region or thumb region of the gloves illustrated in FIGS.21A to 21E having a fingertip region that is of a reduced or smallercircumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, a step-down region similar to region 613 (FIG. 18A) isprovided. One such exemplary step-down region 913 is identified in FIG.21A.

FIG. 22 shows an exemplary thirteenth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 1017.Glove 1017 is an ambidextrous glove that includes a wrist region 1002,palm region 1004, thumb region 1006, index finger region 1008, middlefinger region 1010, ring finger region 1012, and little finger region1014. Glove 1017 may include one or more fingertip regions 1006 a, 1008a, 1010 a, 1012 a, 1014 a that are of a smaller circumference than theremaining portion of the associated thumb region 1006, index fingerregion 1008, middle finger region 1010, ring finger region 1012, andlittle finger region 1014. One or more of the fingertip regions 1006 athrough 1014 a may not have a smaller circumference than the remainingportion of the associated thumb region 1006, index finger region 1008,middle finger region 1010, ring finger region 1012, and little fingerregion 1014 but may rather have generally a same circumference as aremaining portion thereof. Glove 1017 may be substantially identical toany of the gloves 817 or 917 except that some areas glove 1017 may besmooth, some areas may be provided with a first texture, and other areasmay be provided with a second texture. By way of example only, FIG. 22shows glove 1017 with fingertip regions 1006 a, 1008 a, 1010 a that areof smaller circumference relative to the remaining portions 1006 c, 1008c, 1010 c of thumb region 1006, index finger region 1008, and middlefinger region 1010. Fingertip regions 1006 a, 1008 a, 1010 a aretextured with a first texture. Fingertip regions 1012 a, 1014 a are notof a smaller circumference than remaining portions 1012 c, 1014 c andare smooth or non-textured. The rest of glove 1017 may be provided witha second texture. It will be understood that any desired combination oftexturing or smoothness, reduced circumference fingertip regions, andnon-reduced circumference fingertip regions may be utilized in glove1017.

In each finger region or thumb region of the glove discussed above andillustrated in FIG. 22 having a fingertip region that is of a reduced orsmaller circumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, a step-down region similar to region 613 (FIG. 18A) isprovided. One such exemplary step-down region 1013 is identified in FIG.22 .

FIGS. 23A through 23E show a fourteenth embodiment of a glove 1117 inaccordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. Glove 1117 isillustrated as a hand-specific glove that includes wrist region 1102,palm region 1104, thumb region 1106, index finger region 1108, middlefinger region 1110, ring finger region 1112, and little finger region1114. Collectively, each of these gloves 1117 shown in FIGS. 23A to 23Emay be considered to be an example of a glove accordance with thepresent disclosure that includes fingertip regions 1106 a, 1108 a, 1110a, 1112 a, 1114 a that are of a bullet-tip configuration. The bullet-tipconfiguration is one where one or more of the fingertip regions is of asmaller circumference than a circumference of the associated remainingportion 1106 c, 1108 c, 1110 c, 1112 c, 1114 c of the thumb region 1106,index finger region 1108, middle finger region 1110, ring finger region1112, and little finger region 1114. A flared skirt extends between thebullet-tip type fingertip region and the associated remaining portion.The skirt tapers in circumference from the remaining portion to theassociated fingertip region. The skirt is of a smallest circumferenceproximate the bullet-tip and is of a largest circumference proximate theassociated remaining portion. Additionally, the circumference of thebullet-tip is substantially constant from the skirt to substantiallyadjacent the end 1106 e, 1108 e, 1110 e, 1112 e, or 1114 e of theassociated thumb region 1106, index finger region 1108, middle fingerregion 1110, ring finger region 1112, or little finger region 1114.FIGS. 23A to 23E show examples of glove 1117 that are entirely smooth ornon-textured. It will be understood however that in other instances, thegloves shown in FIGS. 23A to 23E may be entirely textured. In yet otherinstances, the bullet-tip fingertip regions may be smooth (i.e.,non-textured) and the rest of the glove may be textured. In yet otherinstances, the bullet-tip fingertip regions may be textured and the restof the glove may be smooth (i.e., non-textured).

FIG. 23A shows a first example glove 1117 having a bullet-tip fingertipregion 1108 a on index finger region 1108. A skirt 1108 d extendsbetween fingertip region 1108 a and remaining portion 1108 c. Fingertipregion 1108 a is of a substantially constant circumference from skirt1108 d to end 1108 e. Similarly, the circumference of the remainingportion 1108 c is substantially constant from skirt 1108 d to palmregion 1104. The circumference of remaining portion 1108 c is largerthan the reduced circumference of fingertip region 1108. Skirt 1108 dacts as a step-down region between fingertip region 1108 a and remainingportion 1108 c. The step-down region may be more sharply pronounced thanthe step-down regions of previous embodiments. Step-down region, i.e.,skirt 1108 d tapers in circumference from the circumference of theremaining portion 1108 c to the circumference of fingertip region 1108a. The fingertip region 1108 a of index finger region 1108 may besmooth. The rest of glove 1117 may also be smooth.

FIG. 23B shows glove 1117A having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1108 a,1110 a on index finger region 1108 and on middle finger region 1110.Skirts 1108 d, 1110 d extend between the respective fingertip regions1108 a, 1110 a and the associated remaining portions 1108 c, 1110 c. Theentire glove 1117A may be smooth and non-textured.

FIG. 23C shows glove 1117B having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1106 a,1108 a, 1110 a on thumb region 1106, index finger region 1108, andmiddle finger region 1110. Skirts 1106 d, 1108 d, 1110 d extend betweenthe respective fingertip regions 1106 a, 1108 a, 1110 a and theassociated remaining portions 1106 c, 1108 c, 1110 c. The entire glove1117B may be smooth and non-textured.

FIG. 23D shows glove 1117C having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1106 a,1108 a, 1110 a, 1112 a. Skirts 1106 d, 1108 d, 1110 d, 1112 d extendbetween the respective fingertip regions 1106 a, 1108 a, 1110 a, 1112 aand the associated remaining portions 1106 c, 1108 c, 1110 c, and 1112c. The entire glove 1117C may be smooth and non-textured. Although notillustrated herein, it will be understood that fingertip region 1114 aof little finger region 1114 may be formed as a bullet-tip fingertipregion 1114 a instead of fingertip region 1112 a being of a bullet-tipconfiguration. The entire glove 1117C may be smooth.

FIG. 23E shows glove 1117D having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1106 a,1108 a, 1110 a, 1112 a, 1114 a on all five of the thumb region 1106,index finger region 1108, middle finger region 1110, ring finger region1112, and little finger region 1114. Skirts 1106 d, 1108 d, 1110 d, 1112d, 1114 d extend between the respective fingertip regions 1106 a, 1108a, 1110 a, 1112 a, 1114 a and the associated remaining portions 1106 c,1108 c, 1110 c, 1112 c, 1114 c. The entire glove 1117D may be smooth andnon-textured.

FIGS. 23A to 23E show gloves 1117 where one or more of the fingertipregions are formed in a bullet-tip configuration and that bullet-tip isconnected by a skirt to the remaining portion of that thumb region orfinger region. One or more of the non-bullet-tip fingertip regions ofgloves 1117 may be of a type that is of generally same circumference asthe associated remaining portion of a particular thumb region or fingerregion. In other instances, one or more of the non-bullet-tip fingertipregions may be of a reduced circumference relative to the associatedremaining portion of the respective thumb region or finger region.

It will further be understood that the smooth portion of the fingertipregion(s) may be provided on only that part of the fingertip region ofglove 1117 that would come into contact with objects if held in a glovedhand. In other examples, substantially the entire circumferentialsurface of the fingertip region may be smooth. So, for example, only thefingertip region 1108 a may be smooth (non-textured) but the skirt 1108d may be textured. Skirt 1108 d may be textured even if the remainingportion 1108 is smooth. In other instances, the bullet-tip fingertipregion 1108 a and the skirt 1108 d, for example, may both be smoothwhile the remaining portion 1108 c may be textured, or vice versa. Theprovision of texturing or non-texturing of various areas of the glove1117 may be selected based on the end use of glove 1117 and any desiredcombination of smoothness or texturing with one or more textures may beemployed in glove 1117. It will be understood that in other exemplarygloves in accordance with the present disclosure, the gloves 1117 may besubstantially identical to the gloves shown in FIGS. 23A to 23E exceptthat the bullet-tip fingertip region(s) on glove 1117 may be texturedwhile the rest of the glove may be smooth and vice versa.

In each finger region or thumb region of the gloves illustrated in FIGS.23A to 23E having a fingertip region that is of a reduced or smallercircumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, the associated skirt acts as a step-down region.

FIGS. 24A to 24C show examples of a fifteenth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with the present invention generally indicated as glove 1217.Glove 1217 may be substantially identical to any of the glovesillustrated in FIGS. 23A to 23E except that instead of the entire glovebeing smooth or non-textured, different areas of the glove may be smoothor textured with a first texture or with a second texture. FIGS. 24A to24C are provided as examples of different textured and non-texturedareas on the glove.

FIG. 24A shows glove 1217 that is substantially identical inconfiguration to glove 1117B shown in FIG. 23C except that bullet-tipfingertip regions 1206 a, 1208 a, 1210 a and their associated skirts1206 d, 1208 d, 1210 d are smooth (non-textured), fingertip regions 1212a, 1214 a (which are of generally the same circumference as remainingportions 1212 c, 1214 c) are provided with a first texture. The rest ofglove 1217 is provided with a second texture.

FIG. 24B shows another exemplary glove 1217A that is substantiallyidentical to glove 1217 except that bullet-tip fingertip regions 1206 a,1208 a, 1210 a and the associated skirts 1206 d, 1208 d, 1210 d are allsmooth, fingertip regions 1212 a, 1214 a (which are of generally thesame circumference as the associated remaining portions 1212 c, 1214 c)are provided with a first texture and the rest of the glove 1217A issmooth or non-textured.

FIG. 24C shows another exemplary glove 1217B that is substantiallyidentical to glove 1217A shown in FIG. 24B except that the textureprovided on fingertip regions 1212 a, 1214 a is a sand-type textureinstead of a diamond texture. The rest of the glove is smooth ornon-textured. The other big difference between glove 1217B and glove1217A is that the fingertip region 1206 a of thumb region 1206 is not abullet-tip configuration but is instead of a smaller circumference thanthe associated remaining portion 1206 c. Glove 1217B therefore includesone or more fingertip regions that are of the same general circumferenceas the associated remaining portion of that thumb region or fingerregion; one or more fingertip regions that are of a smallercircumference than the associated remaining portion of that thumb regionor finger region; and one or more fingertip regions that are of abullet-tip configuration with a skirt connecting the bullet-tip and theassociated remaining portion of that thumb region or finger region. Thenumber of location of the different fingertip configurations may bevaried depending on the end use of glove 1217. Similarly the texturingor non-texturing of the various fingertip regions and the rest of theglove may be selected based on the end use of the glove 1217.

In each finger region or thumb region of the gloves illustrated in FIGS.24A to 24C having a fingertip region that is of a reduced or smallercircumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, the associated skirt acts as a step-down region.

FIG. 25A to 25E show a sixteenth embodiment of a glove in accordancewith the present disclosure, generally indicated at 1317. The glovesshown in FIGS. 25A to 25E are substantially identical to the glovesshown in FIGS. 23A to 25E except that the gloves in FIGS. 25A to 25E areambidextrous gloves instead of hand-specific gloves. Each of the glovesin FIGS. 25A to 25E includes at least one bullet-tip configurationfingertip region. The texturing of the gloves 1317 in FIGS. 25A to 25Eis also different to the non-textured glove 1117 shown in FIGS. 23A to23E. Gloves 1317 are entirely textured while gloves 1117 are entirelysmooth.

FIG. 25A shows glove 1317 having a bullet-tip fingertip region 1308 a onindex finger region 1308 and a skirt 1308 d extending between fingertipregion 1308 a and remaining portion 1308 c on index finger region 1308.Fingertip region 1306 a, 1310 a, 1312 a, 1314 are of substantially asame circumference as the associated remaining portions 1306 c, 1310 a,1312 c, 1314 c The entire glove 1317 is textured.

FIG. 25B shows glove 1317A having a bullet-tip fingertip region 1308 a,1310 a on index finger region 1308 and on middle finger region 1310.Skirts 1306 d, 1310 d extend between fingertip regions 1308 a, 1310 a,and remaining portions 1308 c, 1310 c on index finger region 1308 andmiddle finger region 1310. Fingertip regions 1306 a, 1312 a, 1314 a areof substantially a same circumference as remaining portions 1306 c, 1312c, and 1314 c. The entire glove 1317A may be textured.

FIG. 25C shows glove 1317B having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1306 a,1308 a, 1310 a on thumb region 1306, index finger region 1308, andmiddle finger region 1310. Skirts 1306 d, 1308 d, 1310 d extend betweenfingertip regions 1306 a, 1308 a, 1310 a and remaining portions 1306,1308 c, 1310 c on thumb region 1306, index finger region 1308 and middlefinger region 1310. Fingertip regions 1312 a, 1314 a are ofsubstantially a same circumference as remaining portions 1312 c, 1314 c.The entire glove 1317A may be textured.

FIG. 25D shows glove 1317C having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1306 a,1308 a, 1310 a, 1312 a. Skirts 1306 d, 1308 d, 1310 d, 1312 d extendbetween fingertip regions 1306 a, 1308 a, 1310 a, 1312 a and remainingportions 1306, 1308 c, 1310 c, 1312 d on thumb region 1306, index fingerregion 1308, middle finger region 1310, and ring finger region 1312.Fingertip region 1314 a may be of substantially a same circumference asremaining portion 1314 c. The entire glove 1317A may be textured. Itwill be understood that in other examples, a bullet-tip fingertip region1314 a may be provided on little finger region 1314 instead of abullet-tip fingertip region 1312 a being provided on ring finger region1312. In these instances a skirt 1314 d will extend between fingertipregion 1314 a and remaining portion 1314 c. The fingertip region 1312 ain these exemplary gloves may be of generally a same circumference asthe remaining portion 1312 c of ring finger region 1312. FIG. 25E showsglove 1317D having bullet-tip fingertip regions 1306 a, 1308 a, 1310 a,1312 a, 1314 a on all five of the thumb region 1306, index finger region1308, middle finger region 1310, ring finger region 1312, and littlefinger region 1314. The entire glove 1317D may be textured.

It will be understood that one or more of the fingertip regions of anyof thumb region 1306, index finger region 1308, middle finger region1310, ring finger region 1312 or little finger region 1314 that is notformed as bullet-tip fingertip region may, instead, be formed as afingertip region that is of a smaller circumference than the remainingportion thereof (in a similar fashion to fingertip region 708 a of glove717). Alternatively, one or more of the fingertip regions of any ofthumb region 1306, index finger region 1308, middle finger region 1310,ring finger region 1312 or little finger region 1314 that are not formedas bullet-tip fingertip regions may, instead, be formed as a fingertipregion that is of generally a same circumference as the associatedremaining portion (such as fingertip region 712 a of glove 717). Acombination of all three different fingertip regions may be provided ona single glove and the placement of each of the three differentfingertip types may be selected according to the end use of the glove.

It will further be understood that in any of the gloves disclosed inthis document the non-texturing or texturing may be provided on thatpart of the glove's surface that would come into contact with an objectif that object was held in a gloved hand. In other gloves in accordancewith the present disclosure substantially the entire circumferentialsurface of the glove may be textured or non-textured. The entire glovemay also be provided with a texture, with one or more textures, or benon-textured.

In each finger region or thumb region of the gloves illustrated in FIGS.25A to 25E having a fingertip region that is of a reduced or smallercircumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, the associated skirt acts as a step-down region.

FIG. 26 shows two gloves placed side-by-side, where one of the gloves isan example of an eighteenth embodiment of a glove in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 26 shows a first glove that is substantially identical to the glove417 shown in FIG. 16B with the exception that no texturing is shown onthe glove. Glove 417, as previously described herein, is a hand-specificglove that includes a wrist region 402, palm region 404, thumb region406, index finger region 408, middle finger region 410, ring fingerregion 412, and little finger region 414. Glove 417 also has fingertipregions 406 a, 408 a, 410 a, 412 a, 414 a that are generally of the samecircumference as the remaining portions 406 c, 408 c, 410 c, 412 c, and414 a of the respective thumb region 406, index finger region 408,middle finger region 410, ring finger region 412, or little fingerregion 414. Each fingertip region includes an end 406 e, 408 e, 410 e,412 e, or 414 e that is located a distance remote from palm region 404.The overall length of each of the thumb region and the finger regions ismeasured from the respective end to the palm region.

FIG. 26 also shows a first example of the eighteenth embodiment of aglove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at1417. Glove 1417 is a hand-specific glove that includes a wrist region1402, palm region 1404, thumb region 1406, index finger region 1408,middle finger region 1410, ring finger region 1412, and little fingerregion 1414. Glove 1417 also has fingertip regions 1406 a, 1408 a, 1410a, 1412 a, 1414 a that are generally of the same circumference as theremaining portions 1406 c, 1408 c, 1410 c, 1412 c, and 1414 a of therespective thumb region 1406, index finger region 1408, middle fingerregion 1410, ring finger region 1412, or little finger region 1414.Glove 1417 is also shown free of texture.

Middle finger region 1410 of glove 1417 has an end 1410 e that islocated a distance remote from palm region 1404. The length “L1” ofmiddle finger region 1410 is approximately the same as the length “L1”of ring finger region 1412. The length “L1” is measured from therespective end 1410 e, 1412 e to a bottom 1402 a of wrist region 1402.By contrast, the end 410 e of middle finger region 410 of glove 417 thatis positioned a distance “H1” outwardly beyond an end 412 e of ringfinger region 412. So the overall length of middle finger region 410 ofglove 417 measured from end 410 e to palm region 404 is the equivalentof “L1”+“H1”. In other words, the overall length of middle finger region410 on glove 417 is longer than the overall length of the middle fingerregion 1410 on glove 1417. It should also be noted that on glove 417,middle finger region 410 extends outwardly for a distance beyond the end412 e of ring finger region 412.

In glove 1417, on the other hand, middle finger region 1410 haseffectively been reduced in overall length relative to middle fingerregion 410 of glove 417. In particular, middle finger region 1410 onglove 1417 is of approximately the same length as ring finger region1412. In other words, end 1410 e of middle finger region 1410 isgenerally aligned with an end 1412 e of ring finger region 1412. Therelative reduction in overall length of middle finger region 1410 helpsto ensure that the glove material of middle finger region 1410 isthinned and pulled firmly and tightly around the fingertip of the user'smiddle finger.

A further comparison of glove 417 and glove 1417 shows that the overalllength “L2” of index finger region 1408 on glove 1417 has also beenreduced relative to the overall length of index finger region 408 ofglove 417. Index finger region 408 extends outwardly beyond end 1408 eof index finger region 1408 by a distance “H2”. Thus the overall lengthof index finger region 408 from end 408 e to palm region 404 is“L2”+“H2”. (The index finger region 408 is longer than index fingerregion 1408 by the distance “H2”) Again, the relative reduction inoverall length of index finger region 1408 to “L2” causes the materialof index finger region 1408 to be thinned and pulled firmly and tightlyaround the fingertip of the user's middle finger when the glove is worn.

A further comparison of glove 417 and glove 1417 shows that the overalllength “L3” of thumb region 1406 is also reduced relative to the overalllength of thumb region 406 of glove 417. Thumb region 406 extendsoutwardly beyond end 1408 e of thumb region 1406 by a distance “H3”.Thus the overall length of thumb region 408 from end 408 e to palmregion 404 is “L3”+“H3”. (Thumb region 408 is longer than thumb region1408 by the distance “H3”.) Again, the relative reduction in overalllength of thumb region 1406 causes the material of thumb region 1406 tobe thinned and pulled tightly around the fingertip of the user's thumb.Thumb region 406 extends for a distance “H3” outwardly beyond an end1406 e of thumb region 1406.

The distances “H1” and “H2” and “H3” may be from about 2 mm up to about5 mm.

It will be understood that the entire glove 1417 may be textured ornon-textured. In other instances, one or more of the fingertip regions1406 a, 1408 a, 1410 a, 1412 a, 1414 a may be textured while the rest ofglove 1417 is non-textured or vice version. In other examples, one ormore of the fingertip regions 1406 a, 1408 a, 1410 a, 1412 a, 1414 a mayfabricated to be of a smaller circumference than a remaining portion1406 c, 1408 c, 1410 c, 1412 c, or 1414 c. In other examples, one ormore of the fingertip regions 1406 a, 1408 a, 1410 a, 1412 a, 1414 a maybe fabricated as bullet-tip fingertip regions and may include associatedskirts.

It will further be understood that while glove 1417 is illustrated as ahand-specific glove, glove 1417 may, instead be an ambidextrous glove.In this instance, all of the features of the ambidextrous glove aresubstantially identical to glove 1417 except that thumb region 1406 willbe oriented in the same plane as the index finger region 1408, middlefinger region 1410, ring finger region 1412 and little finger region1414.

It will further be understood that instead of all of the thumb region1406, index finger region 1408, and the middle finger region 1410 beingreduced in overall length, a glove may be fabricated having only areduced length thumb region 1406, or a reduced length index fingerregion 1408, or a reduced length middle finger region 1410, while therest of the glove is substantially identical to glove 417 (except forthe texturing thereon). Alternatively, instead of only one of the thumbregion 1406, index finger region 1408 and the middle finger region 1410being reduced in overall length, a glove may be fabricated having twoout of the three of the thumb region 1406, index finger region 1408, ormiddle finger region 1410 reduced in length relative to glove 417. Theother features of glove 1417 are substantially identical to glove 417(except possibly for the presence of texturing thereon).

In some examples, there may be about a 4 mm reduction in the length ofthumb region 1406, a 5 mm reduction in the length of index finger region1408, and a 6 mm reduction in the length middle finger region. Thetransition or step-down between the circumference of the remainingportion and the associated reduced circumference diameter may be in theorder of from about 35° up to about 65° relative to the circumference ofthe remaining portion, with from about 45° up to about 60° being apreferred angle of transition. The reduction in the diameter of thefingertip regions may be in the order of from about 1% up to about 15%smaller, with the preferred range being a diameter reduction in theorder of from about 3% up to about 7%. The provision of the step-down orangled transition region is helpful when the user is performing taskssuch as turning a wheel on an intra-venous bag or when grasping anobject while wearing the glove. It should be noted that theabove-mentioned measurements are relative to an industry standard glove.

FIG. 27A shows a nineteenth embodiment of a glove in accordance with thepresent disclosure, generally indicated at 1517. Glove 1517 is identicalto the glove 617 shown in FIG. 18C in all features except for a fewfeatures that will be described hereafter. Glove 1517 includes a wristregion 1502, a palm region 1504, a thumb region 1506, an index fingerregion 1508, a middle finger region 1510, a ring finger region 1512, anda little finger region 1514. Glove 1517 includes reduced circumferencefingertip regions 1506 a, 1508 a, and 1510 a on the thumb region 1506,index finger region 1508, and middle finger region 1510. Glove 1517 isdifferent from glove 617 in that it is fabricated from a material thatmay be comprised of a single layer having an interior surface and anexterior surface or may be comprised of an interior layer 1522 and anexterior layer 1524 where the exterior surface or exterior layer 1524may be of a first color and the interior surface or interior layer 1522may be of a second color that contrasts with first color. Glove 1517also includes a rolled cuff region 1526. Cuff region 1526 may be anextended length of wrist region 1502 that is rolled back upon itself toform the rolled cuff region 1526. The rolling of this extended length ofthe wrist region causes the color of the interior surface or interiorlayer 1522 to become visible. The exterior of the glove 1517 is of thefirst color and the rolled cuff 1526 forms a rim of the second color atthe bottom end of the wrist region 1502. The contrast between the firstand second colors tends to draw an observer's eye to the second color ofthe rolled cuff 1526. Furthermore, if the glove is cut, ripped, or torn,the second color of the interior surface or interior layer 1522 maybecome visible to the person wearing the glove or to other people whosee the glove wearer's hands. The contrasting first and second colorstherefore act as a cut indicator or tear indicator. The contrastingcolored rolled cuff 1526 may be utilized to indicate to the wearer orothers that the glove 1517 includes a tear indicator. It will beunderstood that the rolled cuff does not need to be the same color asthe interior surface or interior layer of the glove but may be acompletely different color therefrom and also may be a completelydifferent color from the exterior surface or exterior layer (i.e., athird color).

FIG. 27B shows glove 1517 that is identical to the glove shown in FIG.27A except that a portion of the glove has been torn or cut at 1528. Asa consequence, the second color of the interior surface or interiorlayer 1522 is visible through cut 1528 and stands out relative to thefirst color of the exterior surface or exterior layer 1524. It istherefore very easy for a person wearing glove 1517 to see the cut 1528and realize that the glove 1517 has been compromised and must bechanged. It is also very easy for an observer to see the cut 1528 on theglove 1517 worn on another's hand because the second color of theinterior surface or interior layer 1522 draws the observer's eye to thelocation of the cut 1528 on the first colored exterior surface 1524. Theobserver can then bring the cut 1528 to the glove wearer's attention.

It will be understood that this tear indicator (i.e., the presence ofthe two differently colored surface or layers) plus the rolled cuff 1526can be utilized on any of the gloves disclosed herein.

It will further be understood that the tear indicator may also be usefulif the glove material is simply wearing thin from use or isdeteriorating. The differently colored interior surface or layer mayprogressively become visible through the thinning or deterioratingexterior surface or layer, thereby warning the user that the glove isnearing the end of its useful life.

FIG. 28 is a twentieth embodiment of a glove in accordance with thepresent disclosure, generally indicated at 1617. Glove 1617 is anambidextrous glove that incorporates the features of the tear indicatorinto the same. FIG. 28 shows glove 1617 that includes a wrist region1602, a palm region 1604, thumb region 1606, index finger region 1608,middle finger region 1610, ring finger region 1612, and little fingerregion 1614. By way of a non-limiting example only, glove 1617 furtherincludes one or more bullet-tip fingertip regions 1606 a, 1608 a, and1610 a with skirts 1606 d, 1608 d, 1610 d on thumb region 1606, indexfinger region 1608, and middle finger region 1610. Glove 1617 alsoincludes one or more fingertip regions 1612 a, 1614 a that are generallyof the same circumference as the associated remaining portions 1612 c,1614 c. Although not shown in FIG. 28 , it will be understood that glove1617 may, alternatively or additionally, include one or more fingertipregions that are of a smaller diameter than the associated remainingportion. It will be further understood that any one or more of thesethree different types of fingertip regions may be utilized in glove1617. Glove 1617 may also include any desired combination of smoothareas or areas that are textured with a first texture or a secondtexture.

Glove 1617 may further include an additional feature that may also beincluded in any of the other gloves described herein, namely theprovision of a rip, cut or tear-indicator 1620 that is substantiallyidentical in nature and function to the tear indicator on glove 1417. Inparticular, any of the gloves in accordance with the present disclosuremay be fabricated to include an exterior surface or exterior layer 1624of a first color an interior surface or interior layer 1622 of a secondcolor. The first color and second color are preferably sufficientlycontrasting that if a rip, cut or tear 1628 forms in the exteriorsurface or exterior layer 1624, the second color of the interior surfaceor interior layer 1622 will become evident and visible to the wearer ofglove 1617 or to others that observe the wearer's hand. When such a tearindicator 1628 becomes evident, the wearer will be made aware that glove1617 has been compromised and will remove and discard at least the cutor torn glove 1617.

If the glove that includes the tear indicator is a hand-specific glovesuch as glove 1417, then both the left hand glove and right hand glovewill likely have to be pulled off the user's hands and be thrown away.If the glove is an ambidextrous glove such as glove 1617, then only thedamaged glove will likely have to be removed and thrown away.

A folded cuff 1626 may be provided as part of wrist region 1602 of glove1617. The cuff comprises a length of wrist region 1602 having beenfolded up to form the end of the glove 1617. The cuff 1626 is folded insuch a way that second color of the interior surface or interior layer1622 forms a stripe of second color around the circumference of thelower end of the wrist region 1602. The second color stripe is readilyobserved because the second color contrasts with the first color on therest of wrist region 1602 and glove 1617. The folded cuff 1626 thereforeindicates to a person that this particular glove includes a tearindicator.

In other instances, the contrasting color cuff 1626 (whether rolled,folded or otherwise formed) may further be utilized to identify to usersthe particular types of material from which the glove 1617 may befabricated. For example, the interior surface or interior layer 1622 maybe formed from a material that is free of or is essentially free ofelements, components, or compounds that may cause hypersensitivity and/rallergic reaction in people who wear the glove 1617. A particular colormay be utilized in either or both of the interior surface or interiorlayer 1622 and exterior surface or exterior layer 1624 to identify theparticular properties or materials utilized in that layer or surface. Inother instances, the interior surface or interior layer 1622 or exteriorsurface or exterior layer 1624 may be fabricated from a material thatshields the user from exposure to certain dangerous substances. Forexample, the interior and exterior layers or surfaces 1622, 1624 mayprotect the wearer from being exposed to substances such as fentanyl.Again, a particular color provided in either of the interior surface orlayer 1622 or exterior surface or layer 1624 of glove 1617 may be usedto signify this property.

FIGS. 29A to 29G disclose features of a twenty-first embodiment of aglove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at1717. Glove 1717, as illustrated is a hand specific glove but it shouldbe understood that similar features as will be described hereafter maybe readily incorporated into an ambidextrous glove. Glove 1717 includesa wrist region 1702, a palm region 1704, a thumb region 1706, an indexfinger region 1708, a middle finger region 1710, a ring finger region1712, and a little finger region 1714.

Glove 1717 is shown as including includes a fingertip region 1706 a onthe thumb region 1706 that is of a bullet-tip configuration where thebullet-tip type fingertip region 1706 is connected via a skirt 1706 d toa remaining portion. The fingertip region 1708 a of index finger region1708 is not of a bullet-tip configuration but is of a reducedcircumference compared to the remaining portion thereof. The fingertipregion 1710 a of middle finger region 1710 is, again of a bullet-tipconfiguration and is connected to a remaining portion of middle fingerregion 1710 by skirt 1710 d.

In accordance with a feature of the present disclosure, a fluted region1730 (FIGS. 29B and 29C) is provided on fingertip region 1708 a. Flutedregion 1730 may be particularly useful since the configuration narrowsthe fingertip region 1708 a and therefore helps fingertip region 1708 ato more effectively grip the user's fingertip that is received therein.Fluted region 1730 also breaks the suction between fingertip region 1708a and the user's fingertip while the glove 1717 is being donned (put on)or doffed (taken off). Fluted region 1730 may be oriented generallyparallel to a longitudinal axis “Y” of index finger region 1708. Flutedregion 1730 may be located entirely within fingertip region 1708 a, orpartially in fingertip region 1708 a and partially in the remainingportion of index finger region 1708. The fluted region 1730 extends fora distance into the associated interior cavity 1708 b (FIG. 29C). Flutedregion 1730 may be formed anywhere on the circumference of fingertipregion 1708 a but one particularly suitable location is generally alonga midline of a side surface of the fingertip region 1708 a that isadjacent thumb region 1706. Fluted region 1730 effectively aids inreducing the circumference of fingertip region 1708 a.

It should be noted that fingertip region 1708 a may be narrowed frontsurface to back surface only and not around substantially the entirecircumference of fingertip region 1708 a.

FIG. 29D shows an alternative embodiment in which a second fluted region1730 is defined in fingertip region 1708 a. The second fluted region1730 is oriented substantially parallel to longitudinal axis “Y”. Thetwo fingertip regions 1730 may be opposed to each other. Furthermore,the two fingertip regions may be formed in the opposed side surfaces offingertip region 1708 a, particularly being aligned generally along themidline of the side surfaces.

FIG. 29E shows yet another embodiment in which a second fluted region1730 is defined in fingertip region 1730. In this instance, however, thesecond fluted region is located adjacent the first fluted region 1730.The two fluted regions may be located on the side surface of the indexfinger region 1708 that is adjacent the thumb region. The two flutedregions 1730 may be disposed on either side of the midline of the sidesurface of fingertip region 1708 a. It will be understood that a secondpair of fluted regions may be provided on the opposed side surface ofthe fingertip region 1708 a. Fluted regions 1730 as shown in FIG. 29Eextend for a distance into the cavity of index finger region 1708 in asimilar manner to what is illustrated in FIG. 29C or FIG. 29D.

FIGS. 29F and 29G show yet another embodiment of a fingertip region thatincludes one or more fluted regions 1730. In this instance, however, theone or more fluted regions are oriented substantially at right angles tolongitudinal axis “Y”. Adjacent fluted regions may be spaced a shortdistance apart from each other and may extend into cavity 1708 b. Whilefive fluted regions are illustrated in FIGS. 29F and 29G, it will beunderstood that only a single fluted region may be provided on fingertipregion 1708 a or two or more, including more than five fluted regionsmay be provided. Fluted regions 1730 may be provided on a side surfaceof the fingertip region 1730, particularly on the side surface adjacentthumb region 1706. A second group of one or more fluted regions 1730 maybe provided in fingertip region 1708 a in a location opposed to the oneor more fluted regions illustrated in FIGS. 29F and 29G. In other words,both groups of one or more fluted regions 1730 may be provided in sidesurfaces of fingertip region 1708 a. The groups of fluted regions 1730may each be oriented generally along a midline of the associated sidesurface of the fingertip region 1708.

It will be understood that any of the fluted regions illustrated hereinmay be provided at any location on the circumference of the fingertipregion 1708 a. Furthermore, one or more fluted regions may be providedon any or all of the fingertip regions on glove 1717. While the flutedregions 1730 have been illustrated as being provided on a fingertipregion of reduced diameter, such fluted regions 1730 may be provided ona bullet-tip configured fingertip region or on a fingertip region thatis not specifically reduced in circumference. Furthermore, additionalfluted regions of any illustrated configuration may be provided at oneor more locations around the circumference of the fingertip region.

In each finger region or thumb region of the gloves illustrated in FIGS.27A to 29G having a fingertip region that is of a reduced or smallercircumference than the circumference of the associated remainingportion, the associated skirt acts as a step-down region.

Referring to FIGS. 30A to 30E, there is shown a twenty-second embodimentof a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generallyindicated at 1817. Glove 1817 includes a wrist region 1802, a palmregion 1804, and a plurality of digit regions. In particular, the digitregions comprise a thumb region 1806, an index finger region 1808, amiddle finger region 1810, a ring finger region 1812, and a littlefinger region 1814.

Glove 1817, as illustrated, is an ambidextrous glove. In other words,glove 1817 can be worn on a left hand or a right hand of a user. FIG.30D shows that the thumb region 1806, index finger region 1808, middlefinger region 1810, ring finger region 1812, and little finger region1814 are all aligned along a common plane “P”. Although not shown in theattached figures, it will be understood that the wrist region 1802, palmregion 1804, thumb region 1806, index finger region 1808, middle fingerregion 1810, ring finger region 1812, and little finger region 1814,together, bound and define an interior cavity into which the left handor right hand of the user is received. Wrist region 1802 includes an endor cuff 1802 a which forms a lowermost end thereof. Cuff 1802 a definesan entrance opening (not shown) through which the hand of the user isinserted when the glove is donned. The cuff 1802 a may simply be an endregion of wrist region 1802 (as shown in FIG. 30A). In otherembodiments, however, the cuff 1802 a may be formed into a folded,rolled, or beaded cuff. Wrist region 1802 is configured to surround awrist of the user when glove 1817 is worn. In some embodiments the wristregion 1802 may be of a greater length than is illustrated in theattached figures and may be configured to surround the wrist and aportion of the user's forearm.

Palm region 1804 extends outwardly from wrist region 1802 moving in adirection away from cuff 1802 a. Palm region 1804 is configured tosurround the palm and back of the user's hand.

Each of thumb region 1806, index finger region 1808, middle fingerregion 1810, ring finger region 1812, and little finger region 1814extend outwardly from palm region 1804 moving in a direction away fromwrist region 1802. Thumb region 1806 is configured to surround the thumbof the user; index finger region 1808 is configured to surround theindex finger of the user, middle finger region 1810 is configured tosurround the middle finger of the user; ring finger region 1812 isconfigured to surround the ring finger of the user; and little fingerregion 1814 is configured to surround the little finger of the user.

Each of the thumb region 1806, index finger region 1808, middle fingerregion 1810, ring finger region 1812, and little finger region 1814 iscomprised of an exterior wall that will envelope the associated fingeror thumb of the user when the glove 1817 is worn. The exterior wallextends outwardly from palm region 1804 and terminates in a terminal endlocated remote from the palm region 1804. Each digit region has alongitudinal axis, such as longitudinal axis “Y” of middle finger region1810 shown in FIGS. 30F through 30H. Longitudinal axis “Y” extends fromthe terminal end of the associated digit region to the palm region 1804.A terminal end of the fingertip region will be located remote from palmregion 1804 and proximate where a tip of the user's finger or thumb willbe located when glove 1817 is worn. The fingertip region extends fromthe terminal end of the respective digit region to an area that will begenerally aligned with and proximate to where a user's outermost knucklewill be located when glove 1817 is worn. The fingertip region extendsfrom the terminal end for about 0.75 inches to about 1.5 inches (about2.0 cms to 3.5 cms) along the respective digit region. The remainingportion of each digit region extends between the fingertip region andthe palm region 1804.

Thumb region 1806 comprises a fingertip region 1806 a which defines aninterior region 1806 b of a reduced circumference (which will bediscussed later herein), and a remaining portion 1806 c. Index fingerregion 1808 comprises a fingertip region 1808 a which defines aninterior region 1808 b of a reduced circumference, and a remainingportion 1808 c. Middle finger region 1810 comprises a fingertip region1810 a which defines an interior region 1810 b of a reducedcircumference, and a remaining portion 1810 c. Ring finger region 1812comprises a fingertip region 1812 a which defines an interior region1812 b of a reduced circumference, and a remaining portion 1812 c.Little finger region 1814 comprises a fingertip region 1814 a whichdefines an interior region 1814 b of a reduced circumference, and aremaining portion 1814 c.

As shown in FIG. 30B, the fingertip region of each digit region of glove1817 is of a first circumference “C1” and the remaining portion of eachdigit region is of a second circumference “C2”. The first and secondcircumferences “C1”, “C2” are measured at an orientation of 90° relativeto the longitudinal axis “Y” of the respective particular digit region.The first and second circumferences “C1”, “C2” are measured where thecircumference is at a maximum size for the respective one of thefingertip region and the remaining portion. The size of the firstcircumference “C1” may differ from one digit region to the next. Forexample, the first circumference of thumb region 1806 is greater thanthe first circumference of little finger region 1814. Additionally, thesize of the second circumference “C2” may differ from one digit regionto the next. The manner in which the differently-sized fingertip regionand remaining portion of each digit region is formed will be discussedlater herein. However, for each digit region of glove 1817, the firstcircumference “C1” is always smaller than the second circumference “C2”thereof. In particular, the first circumference “C1” is sized such thatthe interior cavity of the fingertip region will be smaller in size thatthe fingertip of the user when the glove 1817 is worn. The reasons forthis arrangement will be discussed further later herein. By contrast,the second circumference “C2” of each digit region is configured to becomplementary to or larger than the circumference of the rest of auser's finger which is received in the interior cavity defined by theremaining portion of the respective digit region.

Referring now to FIGS. 30F through 30H, the middle finger region 1810will be described in greater detail. It will be understood that each ofthe thumb region 1806, index finger region 1808, ring finger region 1812and little finger region 1814 are substantially identical inconfiguration to middle finger region 1810. It is simply the overalllength and circumference of the various parts of the digit regions thatdiffer from one another. The discussion below regarding the middlefinger region 1810 therefore applies equally to each of the thumb region1806, index finger region 1808, ring finger region 1812, and littlefinger region 1814.

As has been described earlier herein, glove 1817 is an ambidextrousglove that is able to be worn on either of a right hand or a left handof a user. The following description is based on the glove 1817 shown inFIG. 30A being oriented to be worn on a user's left hand with the user'spalm facing the viewer. FIG. 30A therefore illustrates a portion of theglove's exterior surface which will be adjacent the user's palm andareas of the user's fingers and thumb which will contact an object beingheld in the left hand. The exterior surface of glove 1817 illustrated inFIG. 30A will be referred to hereafter as the “front” surface of glove1817. In view of this, FIG. 30B illustrates the glove's exterior surfacewhich will be adjacent the back of the user's hand, fingers, and thumband will therefore not be in contact with an object held in the user'sleft hand. The exterior surface of glove 1817 illustrated in FIG. 30Bwill be referred to hereafter as the “rear” surface of glove 1817. Itshould be understood that the terms “front” and “rear” used herein arebeing used relative to the specific orientation of glove 1817illustrated in FIGS. 30A to 30L and the terms are simply used for easeof description herein. The terms “front” and “rear” should not beconsidered to limit the scope of protection for glove 1817 in any way.

Middle finger region 1810 has a front surface 1811 a (FIGS. 30F to 30H),a rear surface 1811 b, a first side surface 1811 c, and a second sidesurface 1811 d. Front surface 1811 a and rear surface 1811 b are opposedto one another. First side surface 1811 c and second side surface 1811 dare opposed to one another. Each digit region has a longitudinal axisextending along a centerline of the digit region. The longitudinal axis“Y” of middle finger region 1810, for example, is shown in FIGS. 30F to30H.

The manner in which the reduction in the circumference of each digitregion is accomplished will now be described in detail, particularlywith reference to FIG. 30H in which the middle finger region 1810 isshown. It will be understood that the other digit regions are similarlyreduced in circumference to form the fingertip region and remainingportions thereof.

The exterior wall of each digit region, such as middle finger region1810 has a “perimeter”. The term “perimeter” should be understood torepresent a 360° circumferential length of the exterior wall of middlefinger region 1810, for example, measured along a plane oriented atninety degrees to the longitudinal axis “Y” thereof. The perimetercircumscribes a centerline of the middle finger region 1810, i.e.,extends through 360° a distance outwardly from the centerline, where thecenterline extends along the longitudinal axis “Y” of the middle fingerregion 1810.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the arcuatelength of at least one section of the total perimeter is reduced in sizein the fingertip region 1810 a relative to the same section of theperimeter in the remaining portion 1810 c. For example, the arcuatelength of a 60° section of the perimeter in the fingertip region 1810 ais smaller than the arcuate length of the perimeter of the remainingportion in the same 60° section of the middle finger region 1810. Thiscan be seen in FIG. 30H, for example, where the total perimeter of thefingertip region 1810 a (measured through 360°) is indicated asperimeter “P1”, and the total perimeter of the remaining portion 1810 c(measured through 360°) is indicated as perimeter “P2”. In FIG. 30H, theperimeter “P2” is marked to show four transition points, namely, firstpoint 1813 a, second point 1813 b, third point 1813 c, and fourth point1813 d. In the illustrated embodiment, first point 1813 a and secondpoint 1813 b are located approximately 120° apart from one another,second point 1813 b and third point 1813 c are located approximately 60°apart from one another; third point 1813 c and fourth point 1813 d arelocated approximately 120° apart from one another, and fourth point 1813d and first point 1813 a are located approximately 60° relative to oneanother. It will be understood that the angular arrangement of the firstpoint 1813 a through fourth point 1813 d relative to one another may beother than what is described above. For example, the first and secondpoints 1813 a, 1813 b being located 60° apart and the third and fourthpoint 1813 c, 1813 d being approximately 120° apart can be varied to anydesired angular arrangement which will give a desired type of reductionin the circumference of the fingertip region 1810 a based on the end useof the glove 1817.

A first section of the perimeters ‘P1” and “P2” extends between thefirst and second points 1813 a, 1813 b; a second section of theperimeters “P1” and “P2” extends between second and third points 1813 b,1813 c; a third section of the perimeters “P1” and “P2” extends betweenthird and fourth points 1813 c, 1813 d; and a fourth section of theperimeters “P1” and “P2” extends between fourth and first points 1813 d,1813 a.

Starting at first point 1813 a and proceeding through to second point1813 b, it can be seen that the arcuate length of the perimeter “P2”between first point 1813 a and second point 1813 b is longer than thearcuate length of the perimeter “P1” between first point 1813 a andsecond point 1813 b. Similarly, the arcuate length of perimeter “P2” islonger than the arcuate length of perimeter “P1” between third point1813 c and fourth point 1813 d. Stated differently, the arcuate lengthof the first section of the perimeter “P1” between first and secondpoints 1813 a, 1813 b and of the third section of the perimeter “P1”between third and fourth points 1813 c, 1813 d is reduced relative tothe arcuate lengths of the first and third sections of the perimeter“P2”. It should be noted that the reduction in arcuate length of theopposed first and third sections of the perimeter “P1” fall on the frontsurface 1811 a and rear surface 1811 b of middle finger region 1810.

By contrast, the arcuate length of the second and fourth sections of theperimeter “P2” and the arcuate lengths of the second and fourth sectionsof the perimeter “P1” between second and third points 1813 b, 1813 c andbetween fourth and first points 1813 d, 1813 a is substantially thesame. In other words, there is no reduction in size between the secondand fourth sections of the two perimeters “P2” and “P1”. The arcuatelengths of the opposed second and fourth sections of the perimeters “P1”and “P2” fall on the first side surface 1811 c and second side surface1811 d of middle finger region 1810.

The reduction in size of the first and second sections of the perimeterthrough less than 360° causes each digit region to comprise two distinctparts, namely, the fingertip region 1810 a and the remaining portion1810 b. The fingertip region is of a first circumference “C1” and theremaining portion is of a second circumference “C2”. The firstcircumference “C1” is smaller than the second circumference “C2”. Asindicated earlier herein, the reduction in the size of the perimeter isthrough less than 360° of the total length of the perimeter. Thisarrangement is in contrast to the previous embodiments of the glovedisclosed herein. In the previous embodiments the entire 360° of theperimeter is reduced in size in order to form fingertip regions of thefirst circumference “C1” and remaining portions of the secondcircumference “C2”. Reducing the size of less than the entire perimeterof the finger region or thumb region may provide for a more comfortablefitting of the fingertip regions on a person's hand. Reducing the sizeof less than the entire perimeter still provides the benefits of thefingertip regions being pulled taut over the tips of the user's fingersand thumb and the thinning of the overall thickness of the glovematerial in the fingertip regions. In other words, the possible increasein comfort of the fingertip regions provided by only reducing part ofthe perimeter does not tend to diminish the improved tactile sensitivityand finger dexterity offered by glove 1817 relative to the otherembodiments of the glove disclosed herein.

Another way of discussing how the digit region is reduced in size toform the fingertip region and the remaining portion of any particulardigit region is by showing the change in size with respect to animaginary major axis “A” and imaginary minor axis “B” (FIG. 30H). Thereduction in the circumference “C1” of fingertip region 1810 a relativeto circumference “C2” of remaining portion 1810 c is effectivelyachieved by only reducing part of the circumference “C2” of remainingportion 1810 c. The centerline of each digit region extends between theterminal end of the respective digit region and palm region 1804 and islocated along a plane of intersection between an imaginary major axis“A” (FIG. 30H) and an imaginary minor axis “B”. The imaginary major axis“A” of middle finger region 1810, for example, extends between frontsurface 1811 a and rear surface 1811 b thereof. The imaginary minor axis“B” of middle finger region 1810 extends between first side surface 1811c and second side surface 1811 d thereof. The imaginary major axis “A”and imaginary minor axis “B” are oriented at 90° relative to one anotherand relative to the longitudinal axis “Y” of middle finger region 1810.

The dimension of the fingertip region 1810 a is only reduced along theimaginary major axis “A” instead of reducing the dimensions of fingertipregion 1810 a along both the imaginary major axis “A” and the imaginaryminor axis “B”. Fingertip region 1810 a is of a maximum dimension “A1”measured along imaginary major axis “A” and is of a maximum dimension“B1” measured along imaginary minor axis “B”. Remaining portion 1810 cis of a maximum dimension “A2” measured along imaginary major axis “A”and is of a maximum dimension “B1” measured along imaginary minor axis“B”. It will be understood that the maximum dimensions “A1”, “B1” offingertip region 1810 a are measured where fingertip region 1810 atransitions into remaining portion 1810 c. The maximum dimensions “A2”,“B1” of remaining portion 1810 c are measured where remaining portion1810 c transitions to palm region 1804.

As is evident from FIG. 30H, dimension “A1” of fingertip region 1810 ais smaller than the dimension “A2” of remaining portion 1810 c. Thedimensions “B1” of fingertip region 1810 a and of remaining portion 1810b are identical or substantially identical. The dimensional arrangementdescribed above is such that the circumference “C1” of fingertip region1810 a is reduced in size relative to the circumference “C2” ofremaining portion 1810 c but the reduction in circumference occurs overonly part of the circumference of remaining portion 1810 c and not overthe entire 360° of the circumference.

The end result of the reduction in circumference of fingertip region1810 a is that when middle finger region 1810 is viewed looking in thedirection indicated by line 30H-30H in FIG. 30F, two arcuate orcrescent-shaped regions 1810 d′ and 1810 d″ extend outwardly beyond aportion of the exterior surface of the fingertip region 1810 a. Inparticular, the two arcuate regions 1810 d′ and 1810 d″ extend radiallyoutwardly beyond the front surface and rear surface of fingertip region1810 a. Each arcuate region 1810 d′ and 1810 d″ is longitudinallyaligned with one of the at least two sections of the perimeter of themiddle finger region are reduced in size. The two arcuate orcrescent-shaped regions 1810 d′ and 1810 d″ are arranged as mirrorimages of one another. FIG. 30F shows that fingertip region 1810 a isconfigured to be generally elliptical in cross-section and remainingportion 1810 c is configured to be generally elliptical incross-section. The ellipse of fingertip region 1810 a is smaller thanthe ellipse of remaining portion 1810 c. In some embodiments, dimension“A1” may be substantially equal to the dimension “B1”. In theseembodiments, fingertip region 1810 a will be generally circular incross-section and remaining portion will be generally elliptical incross-section.

As discussed earlier herein, the first circumference “C1” is smallerthan a circumference of the tips of the user's fingers and thumb thatwill be received within the interior of the respective digit regionswhen the glove 1817 is worn. Second circumference “C2” is configured tobe equal or greater than the circumference of that part of a user'sthumb and fingers which will be received in the remaining portion of arespective digit region of glove 1817. This arrangement helps to ensurethat when glove 1817 is donned, i.e., pulled on, the film of the glovematerial in the fingertip regions 1806 a, 1808 a, 1810 a, 1812 a, 1814 awill be pulled taut around the respective tips of the user's thumb andfingers. Additionally, the thickness of the wall in fingertip regions1806 a, 1808 a, 1810 a, 1812 a, 1814 a is reduced relative to thethickness of the wall of the respective remaining portion 1806 c, 1808c, 1810 c, 1812 c, 1814 c as the material film is pulled taut around thetips of the user's thumb and fingers. This arrangement helps to ensurethere is high level of tactile sensitivity in the tips of the user'sthumb and fingers, even though the user is wearing glove 1817. If glove1817 is worn by a medical professional, for example, the medicalprofessional will more readily be able to perform actions such asdetecting a patient's pulse or manipulating an IV tube. The medicalprofessional's tactile sensitivity and maintained dexterity of theirfingers is possible because of the tight fit between the fingertipregions of the glove and the person's hand and because of the presenceof only a very thin layer of glove material between the person'sfingertips and the exterior world.

It should be noted that FIG. 30H shows there has been a substantiallyequal reduction in dimension on each side of the centerline of middlefinger region 1810 and along the imaginary major axis “A” to arrive atthe dimension “A1”. As a result of this substantially equal reduction insize, the fingertip region 1810 a is symmetrical about the centerline.Fingertip region 1810 a is also symmetrical about a plane extendingalong imaginary major axis “A” and about a plane extending alongimaginary minor axis “B”.

It will be understood, however, that in other embodiments the reductionin the dimension along the imaginary major axis “A” may not be equal insize on both sides of the centerline. For example, the distance betweenfront surface 1811 a and the centerline of middle finger region 1810 amay be greater than the distance between rear surface 1811 b and thecenterline, or vice versa. In these other embodiments, the two arcuateregions 1810 d′ and 1810 d″ will tend to be different in appearance andin size from one another and the fingertip region 1810 a will not besymmetrical about the centerline.

While the reduction in circumference has been described as beingdirected along imaginary major axis “A”, in other embodiments, thereduction in circumference may be taken along any other desiredimaginary axis oriented at an angle relative to the imaginary major axis“A” and at 90° to the longitudinal axis of the respective digit region.The appearance and size of the regions 1810 d′ and 1810 d″ will changeaccordingly.

In some embodiments, not shown herein, the reduction in circumferencealong the imaginary major axis “A” may occur entirely between thecenterline and one or the other of front surface 1811 a and rear surface1811 b. In these instances, only one region 1810 d′ or 1810 d″ may bevisible when the end of the fingertip region 1810 a is viewed (as inFIG. 30H). In these instances, the single region 1810 d′ or 1810 d″ willbe different in size and appearance from what is illustrated in FIG.30H.

Referring now to FIGS. 30A and 301 through 30L different examples ofconfigurations of the twenty-second embodiment of glove 1817 inaccordance with the present disclosure are shown. FIG. 30A shows a firstexample of glove 1817 in which all five digit regions have reducedcircumference fingertip regions. FIG. 30I shows a second example of thetwenty-second embodiment glove, indicated as glove 1817A where thefingertip regions 1806 a, 1808 a, 1810 a, and 1812 a are of reducedcircumference “C1” and the fingertip region 1814 a of little fingerregion 1814 is not reduced in circumference. Instead, the fingertipregion 1814 a is of the same circumference, “C2” as the remainingportion 1814 c of the little finger region 1814.

FIG. 30J shows a third example of the twenty-second embodiment glove,indicated as glove 18178 where the fingertip regions 1806 a, 1808 a, and1810 a are of reduced circumference “C1” and the fingertip region 1812 aof ring finger region 1812 and fingertip region 1814 a of little fingerregion 1814 are not reduced in circumference. Instead, the fingertipregions 1812 a and 1814 a are of the same circumference, “C2”, as therespective remaining portion 1812 c, 1814 c of the ring finger region1812 and little finger region 1814.

FIG. 30K shows a fourth example of the twenty-second embodiment glove,indicated as glove 1817C where the fingertip regions 1808 a, 1810 a ofindex finger region 1808 and middle finger region 1810 are of reducedcircumference “C1”, and the fingertip regions 1806 a, 1812 a, and 1814 aof thumb region 1806, ring finger region 1812, and little finger region1814 are not reduced in circumference. Instead, the fingertip regions1806 a, 1812 a and 1814 a are of the same circumference, “C2”, as therespective remaining portion 1806 c, 1812 c, 1814 c of thumb region1806, ring finger region 1812 and little finger region 1814.

FIG. 30L shows a fifth example of the twenty-second embodiment glove,indicated as glove 1817D. In glove 1817D only the fingertip region 1808a of index finger region 1808 is of reduced circumference “C1”. Thefingertip regions 1806 a, 1810 a, 1812 a, and 1814 a of thumb region1806, middle finger region 1810, ring finger region 1812, and littlefinger region 1814 are not reduced in circumference. Instead, thefingertip regions 1806 a, 1810 a, 1812 a, and 1814 a are of the samecircumference, “C2”, as the respective remaining portion 1806 c, 1810 c,1812 c, and 1814 c.

It should be understood that the examples of gloves 1817, 1817A, 1817B,1817C, and 1817D are exemplary only and one of ordinary skill in the artmay choose to make any one or more of the fingertip regions of any oneor more of the digit regions of smaller circumference “C1” instead ofthe larger circumference “C2”. The specific fingertip region(s) selectedto be of the smaller circumference “C1” will be based on the end use ofthe glove 1817.

Any of the twenty-second embodiments of glove 1817 are manufactured froma material such as nitrile, particularly a medium acrylic nitrile (i.e.,about 24% solids), or a high acrylic nitrile (i.e., about 45% solids).Other suitable materials include neoprene, natural rubber, and polymerssuch as elastomeric polymers. During manufacture of glove 1817, a gloveformer is fabricated in such a way as to ensure that the end-productwill have the features of glove 1817 as described herein. The gloveformer is produced and is subsequently dipped one or more times intoliquid glove material, as is well known in the art. The glove former isfabricated to include finger regions shaped in such a way as toultimately form reduced-circumference fingertip regions of glove 1817 asillustrated in the attached drawings and described herein. Inparticular, the finger regions and thumb region on the former are shapedby reducing the circumference thereof along an arc that extends for lessthan 360° of the circumference of the finger region and thumb region.Specifically, in the glove former for producing the glove 1817, two arcsof reduced circumference are formed in the finger regions and thumbregions. The two arcs are opposed to one another and are formed in thefront surface and back surface of the finger regions and thumb regions.The two arcs are configured such that when the glove 1817 is fabricated,the dimension of the fingertip region measured along the major axis ofthe digit region is reduced relative to the dimension of the remainingportion of the associated digit region. The two arcs on the glove arefurthermore shaped so that when glove 1817 is fabricated, the dimensionof the fingertip region and the remaining portion measured along theminor axis is substantially the same.

The material selected for fabrication may be one that is particularlysuitable for use in surgical gloves. The material selected mayfurthermore be one that is resistant to chemicals, particularly drugs,including opioids such as fentanyl and heroin, and drugs used inchemotherapy. The material may therefore be particularly useful forparamedics and other medical personnel. It will be understood that ifthe gloves are to be used in industries other than for medical purposes,then the material for fabrication of the glove will be selectedaccordingly. The selected material may also be one that tends to reducehypersensitivity or allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to elementsand compounds in glove materials are most commonly caused by prolongedcontact with the allergen such as when a person wears a glove for anextended period of time and their hand remains in contact with theinterior surface of the glove for that extended period. The materialselected for fabrication of glove 1817 may therefore be one that is freeof or essentially free of zinc, and/or sulfur, and/or fluoride, and/orcross-links, and/or accelerators or accelerants. Someaccelerators/accelerants that the glove material may be free of oressentially free of include carbonates or thiurams. The fabrication ofglove 1817 from such materials helps to reduce hypersensitivity orallergic reaction in person's wearing the gloves for extended periods oftime.

Glove 1817 may be fabricated to include a plurality of layers of thematerials outlined above. The plurality of layers may comprise glovesfabricated to include multiple layers of the same material or multiplelayers of different materials. In some embodiments, layers other thanthe interior surface layer of glove 1817 may include elements orcompounds to which a wearer may be hypersensitive or allergic while theinterior surface layer is selected to be free of or essentially free ofthese elements or compounds such as zinc, sulfur, fluoride, and/oraccelerators.

Glove 1817 is fabricated using any suitable known process includingdipping of glove formers into liquid material. Glove 1817 ismanufactured such that the thickness of the glove material thereof issufficient to enable the material in the reduced circumference fingertipregions 1806 a, 1808 a, 1810 a, 1812 a, and 1814 a to be pulledsufficiently thin enough that when glove 1817 is donned, a user is ableto detect a patient's pulse therethrough without the material being sothin as to tear easily. One suitable thickness for the material of glove1817 is about 5 mm.

Glove 1817 is illustrated as having an exterior surface that is smooth.In other words, the exterior surface of the glove is free of texture,also referred to herein as “untextured” or “non-textured”. However, itis also contemplated that in other examples of glove 1817, some or allof the exterior surface of glove 1817 may be textured in some way. Thetexture may a substance or layer of material applied onto or over theexterior surface of glove 1817. In other examples of glove 1817, theexterior surface itself may be shaped so as to create a texture. Forexample, the exterior surface may be configured to form a raisedpattern. The term “textured” used herein is to be understood toencompass both instances where a material is applied onto or over theexterior surface of glove 1817 or the exterior surface itself is formedinto a pattern. The texturing pattern may be any one of a variety ofdesired patterns including but not limited to a sand pattern, a diamondpattern, a herringbone pattern, a fan pattern, a fish-scale pattern, awave pattern, and a rib pattern.

Glove 1817 may have an entirely smooth exterior surface or may have someareas that are left smooth or untextured and other regions that aretextured. For example, regions of glove 1817 that may come into contactwith an object being held in a hand of a user may be textured. In otherexamples of glove 1817, one or more fingertip regions 1806 a through1814 a may be textured while the remaining portions 1806 c through 1814c of the respective digit regions are smooth. In other examples of glove1817, some areas of the glove may be smooth or untextured, other regionsmay be provided with a first texture and yet other regions may beprovided with a second texture or even a third texture thereon. In someexamples, of glove 1817 the fingertip regions of one or more of thethumb region and finger regions may be left smooth while the remainingportions thereof are textured. In other examples of glove 1817, thefingertip regions of one or more of the thumb region and finger regionsmay be smooth and others may be provided with a texture. In otherexamples of glove 1817, some of the fingertip regions may be smoothwhile other fingertip regions are provided with a first texture, and yetother fingertip regions are provided with a second texture. All of thefingertip regions may be smooth and the rest of the glove may betextured with one or more textures. In other examples all of thefingertip regions may be textured and the rest of the glove may besmooth. Since glove 1817 is an ambidextrous glove, texturing or smoothregions will be applied in identical locations on both of the frontsurface 1811 a and rear surface 1811 b of the glove 1817.

It is further to be understood that a wide variety of different andspecific patterning of areas of the glove 1817 (i.e., smooth, notsmooth, differently textured etc.) may be selected in accordance withthe intended end use of the glove. The smaller circumference fingertipregions 1806 a, 1808 a, 1810 a, 1812 a, and 1814 a provide enhancedtactile sensitivity to a user wearing glove 1817. As disclosed earlierherein, one, two, three, four, or all five of the thumb region andfinger regions can include the smaller circumference fingertip regionsto provide this enhanced tactile sensitivity to the users respectivethumb and fingers. Providing a smooth exterior surface on thosefingertip regions of smaller circumference can further enhance tactilesensitivity. Texturing provided on one, two, three, four, or five of thefingertip regions will aid with gripping ability if that is an importantin performing a certain task while wearing glove 1817. Utilizing thesmaller circumference fingertip regions may also enhance grippingability. Any combination of texturing on any specific one or more of thethumb region and finger regions can be utilized to provide enhancedutility of glove 1817.

In one embodiment not illustrated herein, glove 1817 may be providedwith a rip, cut, or tear-indicator. The rip, cut, or tear-indicator maybe provided by fabricating glove 1817 to include an exterior surface orexterior layer of a first color and an interior surface or interiorlayer of a second color. The first color and second color are preferablysufficiently contrasting that if a rip, cut or tear forms in glove 1817,the color of the interior surface or layer will become immediatelyevident and visible to the wearer of the glove 1817 or to others whoobserve the exterior surface of glove 1817 on the wearer's hand. Inother embodiments, the material selected for use in internal layers ofglove 1817 may be one that changes color if exposed to air. If a rip,tear, or cut develops in such an embodiment of glove 1817, the internallayer(s) will be exposed to the air and will therefore display a changein color.

In other instances, when glove 1817 is fabricated from multiple layerswhere the exterior layer is of a first color and the interior layer isof a second color, the wrist region 1802 of glove 1817 may be made to beof a sufficient length that cuff 1802 a is folded or rolled back uponitself. In this instance, the second color of the rolled or folded cuff1802 a will form a rim or border at the base of the wrist region 1802and will contrast with the first color on the rest of the exteriorsurface of glove 1817. The visible second color cuff 1802 a relative tothe first colored rest of glove 1817 may serve as evidence to personsselecting glove 1817 for use that this particular glove includes atear-indicator.

A different color cuff 1802 a may further be utilized to be indicativeof the types of material from which the interior and exterior layers orsurfaces are fabricated. For example, the interior layer or interiorsurface may be formed from a material that is free of or is essentiallyfree of elements, components, or compounds that cause hypersensitivityor allergic reaction in people who wear the glove. A particular colormay be provided in the interior layer or interior surface to indicatethis property in glove 1817. In other instances, the interior surface orinterior layer or exterior surface or exterior layer may be fabricatedfrom a material that shields the user from exposure to certain dangeroussubstances. For example, the interior or exterior layer or surface mayprotect the wearer from being exposed to substances such as fentanyl s.Again, a color provided in either of the interior surface or layer orexterior surface of layer of glove 1817 may be used to indicate thisproperty.

Glove 1817 incorporating the features disclosed herein may be adisposable glove useful for various purposes including but not limitedto surgical gloves and examination gloves.

Referring now to FIG. 31 , there is shown a twenty-third embodiment of aglove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at1917. Glove 1917 is identical in every respect to glove 1817 except thatthe glove 1917 is a hand-specific glove instead of being an ambidextrousglove. It will be understood that while glove 1917 is illustrated asbeing configured for a person's left hand, a hand-specific glove for aright hand will simply be a mirror image of glove 1917.

Glove 1917 includes a wrist region 1902, a palm region 1904, a thumbregion 1906, an index finger region 1908, a middle finger region 1910, aring finger region 1912, and a little finger region 1914. The differencebetween glove 1817 and glove 1917 is that thumb region 1906 is in adifferent plane from the common plane “P” (FIG. 30E) along which indexfinger region 1908, middle finger region 1910, ring finger region 1912,and little finger region 1914 are aligned. Glove 1917 is illustrated inFIG. 31 as having all five of the fingertip regions 1906 a, 1908 a, 1910a, 1912 a, and 1914 a of a reduced circumference “C1” relative to theremaining portions 1906 c, 1908 c, 1910 c, 1912 c, and 1914 c of therespective digit regions. The manner of transitioning from circumference“C1” to circumference “C2” in each digit region of glove 1917 isidentical to the manner of transitioning between the circumferences “C1”and “C2” in glove 1817.

Although not illustrated herein, it will be understood that glove 1917may be fabricated in a similar fashion to the second through fifthexamples of glove 1817, i.e., similar to gloves 1817A, 1817B, 1817C, and1817D, except as hand-specific gloves instead of ambidextrous gloves.Furthermore, like glove 1817, any one of more of the fingertip regionsof glove 1917 may be fabricated to be of the smaller first circumference“C1” or the larger second circumference “C2”. For example, only thethumb region 1906 may be configured to include the reduced firstcircumference “C1” fingertip region 1906 a; or only the ring fingerregion 1912 and little finger region 1914 may have fingertip regions1912 a, 1914 a of reduced circumference “C1”.

All other aspects of glove 1917 are identical to glove 1817 areidentical including the type of material selected for the glove, themethod of manufacturing the same, the provision of tear indicators etc.Glove 1917 may also be provided with any number of differentconfigurations of textured and/or smooth areas on the exterior surfaceof glove 1917 based on the end use of glove 1917. The provision of thetextured and smooth surfaces provided on glove 1917 differs from theprovision of the same in glove 1817 in that only the front surface ofthe glove 1917 may be textured/smooth. The front surface of glove 1917is the surface which will contact an object held in the user's hand. Iftexturing/smooth areas are provided on the rear surface of glove 1917(based on the glove's intended use), then those areas oftexturing/smoothness may not be identical to one another as is the casein the ambidextrous glove 1817.

Referring now to FIGS. 32A through 32L, a twenty-fourth embodiment of aglove in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated,generally indicated at 2017. Glove 2017 includes a wrist region 2002, apalm region 2004, and a plurality of digit regions. In particular, thedigit regions comprise a thumb region 2006, an index finger region 2008,a middle finger region 2010, a ring finger region 2012, and a littlefinger region 2014. Glove 2017, as illustrated, is an ambidextrous glovewhich is substantially similar to glove 1817. FIG. 32E shows that thethumb region 2006, index finger region 2008, middle finger region 2010,ring finger region 2012, and little finger region 2014 are all alignedalong a common plane “P”. Although not shown in the attached figures, itwill be understood that the wrist region 2002, palm region 2004, thumbregion 2006, index finger region 2008, middle finger region 2010, ringfinger region 2012, and little finger region 2014, together, bound anddefine an interior cavity into which the left hand or right hand of theuser is received.

Wrist region 2002 includes an end or cuff 2002 a which forms a lowermostportion of the wrist region 2002. Cuff 2002 a defines an entranceopening (not shown) through which the hand of the user is inserted whenthe glove is donned. The cuff 2002 a may simply be an end region (asshown in FIG. 32A). In other embodiments, the cuff 2002 a may be formedinto a rolled or beaded cuff. Wrist region 2002 is configured tosurround a wrist of the user. In some embodiments the wrist region 2002may be of a greater length than is illustrated in the attached figuresand may be configured to surround the wrist and a portion of the forearmof the user.

Palm region 2004 extends outwardly from wrist region 2002 moving in adirection away from cuff 2002 a. Palm region 2004 is configured tosurround the palm and back of the user's hand.

Each of thumb region 2006, index finger region 2008, middle fingerregion 2010, ring finger region 2012, and little finger region 2014extend outwardly from palm region 2004 moving in a direction away fromwrist region 2002. Thumb region 2006 is configured to surround the thumbof the user; index finger region 2008 is configured to surround theindex finger of the user, middle finger region 2010 is configured tosurround the middle finger of the user; ring finger region 2012 isconfigured to surround the ring finger of the user; and little fingerregion 2014 is configured to surround the little finger of the user.

Each of the thumb region 2006, index finger region 2008, middle fingerregion 2010, ring finger region 2012, and little finger region 2014 iscomprised of a fingertip region and a remaining portion. The fingertipregion extends from a terminal end of the associated digit region to anarea that will be generally proximate where a user's outermost knucklewill be located when glove 2017 is worn. The terminal end of thefingertip region will be located proximate where a tip of the user'sfinger or thumb will be located in the digit region. The fingertipregion will comprise about 1 inch to 1.5 inches (about 2.5 cms to 3.5cms) at the outermost end of the associated digit region. The remainingportion of each digit region extends between the fingertip region ofthat digit region and the palm region 2004 of glove 2017.

Thumb region 2006 comprises a fingertip region 2006 a which defines aninterior region 2006 b of a reduced circumference (which will bediscussed later herein), and a remaining portion 2006 c. Index fingerregion 2008 comprises a fingertip region 2008 a which defines aninterior region 2008 b of a reduced circumference, and a remainingportion 2008 c. Middle finger region 2010 comprises a fingertip region2010 a which defines an interior region 2010 b of a reducedcircumference, and a remaining portion 2010 c. Ring finger region 2012comprises a fingertip region 2012 a which defines an interior region2012 b of a reduced circumference, and a remaining portion 2012 c.Little finger region 2014 comprises a fingertip region 2014 a whichdefines an interior region 2014 b of a reduced circumference, and aremaining portion 2014 c.

The fingertip region of each digit region of glove 2017 is of a firstcircumference “C1” and the remaining portion of each digit region is ofa second circumference “C2”. The first and second circumferences “C1”,“C2” are measured at an orientation of 90° relative to a longitudinalaxis of that particular digit region. The longitudinal axis “Y” ofmiddle finger region 2010 is shown in FIGS. 32F to 32H, for example. Thefirst and second circumferences “C1”, “C2” are measured where thecircumference is at a maximum size for the respective one of thefingertip region and the remaining portion. The size of the firstcircumference “C1” may differ from one digit region to the next.Additionally, the size of the second circumference “C2” may differ fromone digit region to the next. However, for each digit region of glove2017, the first circumference “C1” is smaller than the secondcircumference “C2” thereof.

As has been described earlier herein, glove 2017 is an ambidextrousglove that is able to be worn on either of a right hand or a left handof a user. The following description is based on the glove 2017 shown inFIG. 32A being worn on a user's left hand. FIG. 32A thereforeillustrates a portion of the glove's exterior surface which will beadjacent the user's palm and areas of the user's fingers and thumb thatwill contact an object being held in the left hand. The portion of theexterior surface illustrated in FIG. 32A will be referred to hereafteras the “front” surface of glove 2017. In view of this, FIG. 32B will bea portion the glove's exterior surface which will be adjacent the backof the user's hand, fingers, and thumb and will therefore not be incontact with an object held in the user's left hand. The portion of theexterior surface of glove 2017 illustrated in FIG. 32B will be referredto hereafter as the “rear” surface of glove 2017. It should beunderstood that the terms “front” and “rear” used herein are thereforebeing used relative to the specific orientation of glove 2017 asillustrated in FIGS. 32A to 32L and are utilized for ease of descriptionof how glove 2017 is manufactured and used. The terms “front” and “rear”should not be considered to limit the scope of protection for glove 2017in any way.

Referring now to FIGS. 32F through 32H, the middle finger region 2010 ofglove 2017 will be described in greater detail. It will be understoodthat each of the thumb region 2006, index finger region 2008, ringfinger region 2012 and little finger region 2014 are substantiallyidentical in configuration to middle finger region 2010. It is simplythe overall length and circumference of the various parts of the digitregions that differ from one another. The discussion below regarding themiddle finger region 2010 therefore applies equally to each of the thumbregion 2006, index finger region 2008, ring finger region 2012, andlittle finger region 2014.

As has been described earlier herein, glove 2017 is an ambidextrousglove that is able to be worn on either of a right hand or a left handof a user. The following description is based on the glove 2017 shown inFIG. 32A being oriented to be worn on a user's left hand with the user'spalm facing the viewer. FIG. 32A therefore illustrates a portion of theglove's exterior surface which will be adjacent the user's palm andareas of the user's fingers and thumb which will contact an object beingheld in the left hand. The exterior surface of glove 2017 illustrated inFIG. 32A will be referred to hereafter as the “front” surface of glove2017. In view of this, FIG. 32B illustrates the glove's exterior surfacewhich will be adjacent the back of the user's hand, fingers, and thumband will therefore not be in contact with an object held in the user'sleft hand. The exterior surface of glove 2017 illustrated in FIG. 32Bwill be referred to hereafter as the “rear” surface of glove 2017. Itshould be understood that the terms “front” and “rear” used herein arebeing used relative to the specific orientation of glove 2017illustrated in FIGS. 32A to 32L and the terms are simply used for easeof description herein. The terms “front” and “rear” should not beconsidered to limit the scope of protection for glove 2017 in any way.

Middle finger region 2010 has a front surface 2011 a (FIGS. 32F to 32H),a rear surface 2011 b, a first side surface 2011 c, and a second sidesurface 2011 d. Front surface 2011 a and rear surface 2011 b are opposedto one another. First side surface 2011 c and second side surface 2011 dare opposed to one another. Each digit region has a longitudinal axisextending along a centerline of the digit region. The longitudinal axis“Y” of middle finger region 2010, for example, is shown in FIGS. 32F to32H.

The manner in which the reduction in the circumference of each digitregion is accomplished will now be described in detail, particularlywith reference to FIG. 32H in which the middle finger region 2010 isshown. It will be understood that the other digit regions are similarlyreduced in circumference to form the fingertip region and remainingportions thereof.

The exterior wall of each digit region, such as middle finger region2010 has a “perimeter”. The term “perimeter” should be understood torepresent a 360° circumferential length of the exterior wall of middlefinger region 2010 measured along a plane oriented at ninety degrees tothe longitudinal axis “Y” thereof. In accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure, the arcuate length of at least one section of thetotal perimeter is reduced in size in the fingertip region 2010 arelative to the same section of the perimeter in the remaining portion2010 c. For example, the arcuate length of a 60° section of theperimeter in the fingertip region 2010 a is smaller than the arcuatelength of the perimeter of the remaining portion in the same 60° sectionof the middle finger region 2010. This can be seen in FIG. 32H, forexample, where the total perimeter of the fingertip region 2010 a(measured through 360°) is indicated as perimeter “P1”, and the totalperimeter of the remaining portion 2010 c (measured through 360°) isindicated as perimeter “P2”.

In FIG. 32H, the perimeter “P2” is marked to show four transitionpoints, namely, first point 2013 a, second point 2013 b, third point2013 c, and fourth point 2013 d. In the illustrated embodiment, firstpoint 2013 a and second point 2013 b are located approximately 40° apartfrom one another, second point 2013 b and third point 2013 c are locatedapproximately 140° apart from one another; third point 2013 c and fourthpoint 2013 d are located approximately 40° apart from one another, andfourth point 2013 d and first point 2013 a are located approximately140° relative to one another. A first section of the perimeters “P1” and“P2” extends between the first and second points 2013 a, 2013 b; asecond section of the perimeters “P1” and “P2” extends between secondand third points 2013 b, 2013 c; a third section of the perimeters “P1”and “P2” extends between third and fourth points 2013 c, 2013 d; and afourth section of the perimeters “P1” and “P2” extends between fourthand first points 2013 d, 2013 a. It will be understood that the angulararrangement of the first point 2013 a through fourth point 20813 drelative to one another may be other than what is described above. Forexample, the first and second points 2013 a, 2013 b being located 40°apart and the third and fourth points 2013 c, 20813 d beingapproximately 140° apart can be varied to any desired angulararrangement which will give a desired type of reduction in thecircumference of the fingertip region 2010 a based on the end use of theglove 2017.

Starting at first point 2013 a and proceeding through to second point2013 b, it can be seen that the arcuate length of the first section ofthe perimeter “P2” between first point 2013 a and second point 2013 b issubstantially the same as the arcuate length of the first section ofperimeter “P1” between first point 2013 a and second point 2013 b.Similarly, the arcuate length of the third section of the perimeter “P2”between third point 2013 c and fourth point 2013 d is substantially thesame as the arcuate length of third section of the perimeter “P1”between third point 2013 c and fourth point 2013 d. However, the arcuatelength of the second section of perimeter “P1” between second point 2013b and third point 2013 c is reduced relative to the arcuate length ofthe second section of the perimeter “P2” between second point 2013 andthird point 2013 c. Similarly, the arcuate length of the fourth sectionof the perimeter “P1” between fourth point 2013 d and first point 2013 ais reduced relative to the arcuate length of the fourth section of theperimeter “P2” between fourth point 2013 d and first point 2013 a. Itshould be noted that the reduction in arcuate length of the opposedsecond and fourth sections of the perimeter “P1” fall on the first sidesurface 2011 c and second side surface 2011 d of middle finger region2010.

By contrast, the arcuate length of the first and third of the perimeter“P2” and the arcuate lengths of the first and third sections of theperimeter “P1” between first and second points 2013 a, 2013 b andbetween third and fourth points 2013 c, 2013 d are substantially thesame. In other words, there is no reduction in size between the firstand third sections of the two perimeters “P2” and “P1”. The arcuatelengths of the opposed first and third sections of the perimeters “P1”and “P2” fall on the front surface 2011 a and the rear surface 2011 b ofmiddle finger region 2010.

The reduction in size of the second and fourth sections of the perimeterthrough less than 360° causes each digit region to comprise two distinctparts, namely, the fingertip region 2010 a and the remaining portion2010 b. The fingertip region is of a first circumference “C1” and theremaining portion is of a second circumference “C2”. The firstcircumference “C1” is smaller than the second circumference “C2”.

Another way of discussing how the middle finger region 2010 is reducedin size to form the fingertip region 2010 a and the remaining portion2010 c is by showing the change in size with respect to an imaginarymajor axis “D” and imaginary minor axis “E” (FIG. 32H). The reduction inthe circumference “C1” of fingertip region 2010 a relative tocircumference “C2” of remaining portion 2010 c is effectively achievedby only reducing part of the circumference “C2” of remaining portion2010 c. The centerline of each digit region extends between the terminalend of the respective digit region and palm region 2004 and is locatedalong a plane of intersection between the imaginary major axis “D” (FIG.32H) and the imaginary minor axis “E”. The imaginary major axis “D” ofmiddle finger region 2010 extends between front surface 2011 a and rearsurface 2011 b thereof. The imaginary minor axis “E” of middle fingerregion 2010 extends between first side surface 2011 c and second sidesurface 2011 d thereof. The imaginary major axis “D” and imaginary minoraxis “E” are oriented at 90° relative to one another and relative to thelongitudinal axis “Y” of middle finger region 2010.

In glove 2017, the dimension of the fingertip region 2010 a is onlyreduced along the imaginary minor axis “E” instead of reducing thedimensions of fingertip region 2010 a along both the imaginary majoraxis “D” and the imaginary minor axis “E”. Fingertip region 2010 a is ofa maximum dimension “D1” measured along imaginary major axis “D” and isof a maximum dimension “E1” measured along imaginary minor axis “E”.Remaining portion 2010 c is of a maximum dimension “D1” measured alongimaginary major axis “D” and is of a maximum dimension “E2” measuredalong imaginary minor axis “E”. It will be understood that the maximumdimensions “D1”, “E1” of fingertip region 2010 a are measured wherefingertip region 2010 a transitions into remaining portion 2010 c. Themaximum dimensions “D1”, “E2” of remaining portion 2010 c are measuredwhere remaining portion 2010 c transitions to palm region 2004.

As is evident from FIG. 32H, dimension “D1” of fingertip region 2010 ais identical to or substantially identical to the dimension “D1” ofremaining portion 2010 c. The dimension “E1” of fingertip region 2010 ais reduced in size relative to the dimension “E2” of remaining portion2010 b. The dimensional arrangement described above is such that thecircumference “C1” of fingertip region 2010 a is reduced in sizerelative to the circumference “C2” of remaining portion 2010 c but thereduction in circumference occurs over only part of the circumference ofremaining portion 2010 c and not over the entire 360° of thecircumference. In particular, the reduction in the circumference occursover the first side surface 2011 c and second side surface 2011 d ofmiddle finger region 2010.

The end result of the reduction in circumference of fingertip region2010 a is that when middle finger region 2010 is viewed looking in thedirection indicated by line 32H-32H in FIG. 32F, two crescent-shapedregions 2010 d′ and 2010 d″ extend outwardly beyond the first sidesurface 2011 c and second side surface 2011 d of fingertip region 2010a. The two crescent-shaped regions 2010 d′ and 2010 d″ are arranged asmirror images of one another. FIG. 32H shows that fingertip region 2010a is configured to be generally elliptical in cross-section andremaining portion 2010 c is also configured to be generally ellipticalin cross-section, with the ellipse of fingertip region 2010 a beingsmaller in size than the ellipse of the remaining portion 2010 c.

As discussed earlier herein, the first circumference “C1” is smallerthan a circumference of the tips of the user's fingers and thumb thatwill be received within the interior of the respective digit regionswhen the glove 2017 is worn. Second circumference “C2” is configured tobe equal or greater than the circumference of that part of a user'sthumb and fingers which will be received in the remaining portion of arespective digit region of glove 2017. This arrangement helps to ensurethat when glove 2017 is donned, i.e., pulled on, the film of the glovematerial in the fingertip regions 2006 a, 2008 a, 2010 a, 2012 a, 2014 awill be pulled taut around the respective tips of the user's thumb andfingers. Additionally, the thickness of the wall in fingertip regions2006 a, 2008 a, 2010 a, 2012 a, 2014 a is reduced relative to thethickness of the wall of the respective remaining portion 2006 c, 2008c, 2010 c, 2012 c, 2014 c as the material film is pulled taut around thetips of the user's thumb and fingers. This arrangement helps to ensurethere is high level of tactile sensitivity in the tips of the user'sthumb and fingers, even though the user is wearing glove 2017. If glove2017 is worn by a medical professional, for example, the medicalprofessional will more readily be able to perform actions such asdetecting a patient's pulse or manipulating an IV tube. The medicalprofessional's tactile sensitivity and maintained dexterity of theirfingers is possible because of the tight fit between the fingertipregions of the glove and the person's hand and because of the presenceof only a very thin layer of glove material between the person'sfingertips and the exterior world.

It should be noted that FIG. 32H shows there has been a substantiallyequal reduction in dimension on each side of the centerline of middlefinger region 2010 and along the imaginary minor axis “E” to arrive atthe dimension “E1”. As a result of this substantially equal reduction insize, the fingertip region 2010 a is symmetrical about the centerline.Fingertip region 2010 a is also symmetrical about a plane extendingalong imaginary major axis “D” and about a plane extending alongimaginary minor axis “E”.

It will be understood, however, that in other embodiments the reductionin the dimension along the imaginary minor axis “E” may not be equal insize on both sides of the centerline. For example, the distance betweenfirst side surface 2011 c and the centerline of middle finger region2010 a may be greater than the distance between second side surface 2011d and the centerline, or vice versa. In these other embodiments, the twoarcuate regions 2010 d′ and 2010 d″ will tend to be different inappearance and in size from one another and the fingertip region 2010 awill not be symmetrical about the centerline.

While the reduction in circumference has been described as beingdirected along imaginary minor axis “E”, in other embodiments, thereduction in circumference may be taken along any other desiredimaginary axis oriented at an angle relative to the imaginary minor axis“E” and at 90° to the longitudinal axis of the respective digit region.The appearance and size of the regions 2010 d′ and 2010 d″ will changeaccordingly.

In some embodiments, not shown herein, the reduction in circumferencealong the imaginary minor axis “E” may occur entirely between thecenterline and one or the other of first side surface 2011 c and secondside surface 2011 d. In these instances, only one region 2010 d′ or 2010d″ may be visible when the end of the fingertip region 2010 a is viewed.In these instances, the single region 2010 d′ or 2010 d″ will bedifferent in size and appearance from what is illustrated in FIG. 32H.

It will be understood that apart from the manner in which the firstcircumference “C1” is reduced relative to the remaining portion of thedigit regions of glove 2017, glove 2017 is identical in every otheraspect to glove 1817. The materials for fabrication of same, theprovision of texturing and smooth areas, and the provision of featuressuch as tear indicators, will therefore not be described in any furtherdetail herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 32I through 32L different examples of theconfiguration of glove 2017 in accordance with the present disclosureare shown. FIG. 32I shows a second example of the twenty-fourthembodiment glove, indicated as glove 2017A, where the fingertip regions2006 a, 2008 a, 2010 a, and 2012 a are of reduced circumference “C1” andthe fingertip region 2014 a of little finger region 2014 is not reducedin circumference. Instead, the fingertip region 2014 a is of the samecircumference, “C2”, as the remaining portion 2014 c of the littlefinger region 2014.

FIG. 32J shows a third example of the twenty-fourth embodiment glove,indicated as glove 20176, where the fingertip regions 2006 a, 2008 a,and 2010 a are of reduced circumference “C1” and the fingertip region2012 a of ring finger region 2012 and fingertip region 2014 a of littlefinger region 2014 are not reduced in circumference. Instead, thefingertip regions 2012 a and 2014 a are of the same circumference, “C2”,as the respective remaining portion 2012 c, 2014 c of the ring fingerregion 2012 and little finger region 2014, respectively.

FIG. 32K shows a fourth example of the twenty-fourth embodiment glove,indicated as glove 2017C, where the fingertip regions 2008 a, 2010 a areof reduced circumference “C1” and the fingertip regions 2006 a, 2012 a,and 2014 a of thumb region 2006, ring finger region 2012, and littlefinger region 2014 are not reduced in circumference. Instead, thefingertip regions 2006 a, 2012 a and 2014 a are of the samecircumference, “C2”, as the respective remaining portion 2006 c, 2012 c,2014 c of thumb region 2006, ring finger region 2012 and little fingerregion 2014, respectively.

FIG. 32L shows a fifth example of the twenty-fourth embodiment glove,indicated as glove 2017D, where only the fingertip region 2008 a ofindex finger region 2008 is of reduced circumference “C1” and thefingertip regions 2006 a, 2010 a, 2012 a, and 2014 a of thumb region2006, middle finger region 2010, ring finger region 2012, and littlefinger region 2014 are not reduced in circumference. Instead, thefingertip regions 2006 a, 2010 a, 2012 a, and 2014 a are of the samecircumference, “C2” as the respective remaining portion 2006 c, 2010 c,2012 c, and 2014 c of thumb region 2006, middle finger region 2010, ringfinger region 2012 and little finger region 2014, respectively.

It should be understood that the examples of gloves 2017, 2017A, 2017B,2017C, and 2017D are exemplary only and one of ordinary skill in the artmay choose to make any one or more of the fingertip regions of any oneor more of the digit regions of smaller circumference “C1” instead ofthe larger circumference “C2”. The specific fingertip region(s) selectedto be of the smaller circumference “C1” will be based on the end use ofthe glove 2017.

Referring now to FIG. 33 , there is shown a twenty-fifth embodiment of aglove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at2117. Glove 2117 is identical in every respect to glove 2017 except thatthe glove 2117 is a hand-specific glove (for a left hand) instead of anambidextrous glove. As such, glove 2117 has a wrist region 2102, a palmregion 2104, a thumb region 2106, an index finger region 2108, a middlefinger region 2110, a ring finger region 2112, and a little fingerregion 2114. The difference between glove 2017 and glove 2117 is thatthumb region 2106 is in a different plane from the common plane “P”(FIG. 32E) along which the index finger region 2108, middle fingerregion 2110, ring finger region 2112, and little finger region 2114 arealigned. Glove 2117 is illustrated as having all five of the fingertipregions 2106 a, 2108 a, 2110 a, 2112 a, and 2114 a of a reducedcircumference “C1” relative to the remaining portions 2106 c, 2108 c,2110 c, 2112 c, and 2114 c of the respective digit regions. The mannerof transitioning from circumference “C1” to circumference “C2” in glove2117 is identical to the manner of transitioning between thecircumferences “C1” and “C2” in glove 2017.

Although not illustrated herein, it will be understood that glove 2117may be fabricated in a similar fashion to the second through fifthexamples of glove 2017, i.e., similar to gloves 2017A, 20176, 2017C, and2017D, except as hand-specific gloves instead of ambidextrous gloves.Furthermore, like glove 2017, any one of more of the fingertip regionsof glove 2117 may be fabricated to be of the smaller first circumference“C1” or the larger second circumference “C2”. For example, only thethumb region 2106 may be configured to include the reduced firstcircumference “C1” fingertip region 2106 a; or only the ring fingerregion 2112 and little finger region 2114 may have fingertip regions2112 a, 2114 a of reduced circumference “C1”. All other aspects of glove2117 are identical to gloves 1817, 1917, and 2017.

As is evident from the description above and what follows hereafter, aglove in accordance with the present disclosure may be fabricated toinclude one or more of a plurality of different features.

The first feature is whether the glove is made to be a hand-specific oran ambidextrous glove. It should be understood that any of the glovesdescribed herein may be fabricated as either a hand-specific glove or asan ambidextrous glove.

Another feature that may be incorporated into any of the glovesdescribed herein relates to the fingertip regions provided on one ormore of the digit regions, i.e., the thumb region, index finger region,middle finger region, ring finger region, or little finger region of theglove. In some embodiments of the glove, the fingertip region of one ormore of the digit regions may be of generally a same circumference as aremaining portion of the associated digit region. In other examples, thefingertip region of one or more of the digit regions may be fabricatedto be of a smaller circumference than the remaining portion of theassociated digit region; i.e., the fingertip region may be substantiallynarrower than the remaining portion of the associated digit region. Atransition zone is formed between the smaller circumference fingertipregions and the associated remaining portion of the digit regions.

Still further, gloves may be fabricated to include a combination of oneor more smaller circumference fingertip regions and/or one or morefingertip regions that are not of the smaller circumference. Thespecific placement and combinations of the various types of fingertipregions may be utilized on a glove depending on the desired end-purposeand functionality of the glove.

Another feature which is understood to be able to be incorporated intoany glove in accordance with the present disclosure is the type ofmaterial used to fabricate the glove. Regardless of which particularglove is illustrated or described, it should be understood that thematerials for fabrication can be selected from any of those describedherein. The particular material will simply be selected to suit the endenvironment in which the particular glove will be utilized. The variousdescribed materials can therefore be utilized if the glove ishand-specific or ambidextrous, has same circumference fingertip regionsor smaller circumference fingertip regions; and regardless of whetherareas of the glove are to be made smooth or textured or multi-texturedor a combination of these.

Yet a further feature that may be incorporated into any of the glovesillustrated or described herein is that of a rip, cut or tear-indicator.

It should further be understood that the different configurationsregarding materials, length, fingertip regions, texturing, lack oftexturing etc. described herein may be provided on a hand-specific gloveor on an ambidextrous glove. It should be further understood that thevarious descriptions and figures provided herein are provided asexamples of the types of feature combinations that may be utilized in aglove in accordance with this disclosure. The figures and descriptionshould therefore not be construed to limit the permutations andcombinations in which the various features described herein may beprovided on a glove in accordance with this disclosure.

The provision of smooth/differently textured fingertip regions has beendescribed and illustrated herein in conjunction with hand-specificgloves and ambidextrous gloves. In the latter, the entire circumferenceof the index finger region, the middle finger region, and the thumbregion may be provided with an untextured surface or with a texture thatdiffers from a rest of the glove or even from the other of fingertipregions of the index finger region, middle finger region and thumbregion. Thus, the smooth/textured or differently textured “frontsurface” may be provided on each of the surfaces of the fingertip regionthat may selectively be positioned adjacent a front surface of thethumb, index finger or middle finger depending on whether the glove isworn on a left hand or a right hand.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art thatproviding smooth (i.e., untextured) surfaces on the fingertip regions ofthe index finger region, middle finger region and or thumb region ishelpful in many medically-related settings. For example, smoothfingertip regions on the index finger region and/or middle finger regionmay be helpful when checking a pulse, starting an IV, feeling for veinfor IV—visual helps to start but must feel it before breaking the skin.Having a smooth fingertip region on the thumb region of the glove isalso useful when starting an IV or when connecting an IV tube to acatheter as these have to be twisted and locked together. Having asmooth thumb also helps with a regulator on IV tubing as the medicalprofessional has to “roll it” to clasp the tube and adjust the flowrate; and the thumb does the “rolling”. Having a smooth fingertip regionon the thumb region is also helpful with moving medicine thru an IV lineas the thumb is used on a plunger to pump medicine thru the IV.Additionally, smooth fingertip regions on the thumb region and index andmiddle finger regions may be also helpful when prepping a needle sheath.

A thinner glove is good for procedures performed inside an ambulance fora better feel on the user's hand; like working on a patient as comparedto outside the ambulance where actions can include more to do withmoving the patient. In these instances a thicker glove may be helpful.

It will be understood that while the gloves disclosed herein have beendiscussed as being useful in the medical field, other fields of endeavormay benefit from utilizing gloves that embody the principles appliedherein. For example, gloves used by people who shoot guns may bebeneficial as they provide an enhanced or at least relatively unimpededsense of touch along with an improved grip on a trigger.

In some instances, a glove in accordance with the present disclosure mayhave three fingertip regions (thumb region, index finger region andmiddle finger region) that are smooth and a sand texture on the ringfinger region and little finger region and the rest of the glove,particularly or only the palm region, may be smooth (i.e., free oftexture). Such a glove would be particularly useful in a hospitalenvironment. In an EMS (emergency management services) environment aglove having three fingertip regions (thumb region, index finger regionand middle finger region) that are smooth, with a diamond patternedtexture or other texture or no texture on the palm region would beparticularly helpful. The fingertip regions on the thumb region, indexfinger region, and middle finger region would also be helpful in both ofthese environments.

Gloves with smooth (i.e., untextured) fingertip regions on the thumbregion, index region and middle finger regions make it easier formedical personnel to check a pulse, start an intra-venous (IV) drip,prepping a needle sheath, connecting an IV tube to a catheter, helpingto twist and lock these components together. A smooth fingertip regionon thumb region may help moving medication through an IV line as thethumb is used on a plunger to pump medication through the IV line.Smooth fingertip regions on two finger regions help to feel for a veinfor an IV insertion. Thinner fingertip regions are helpful when insidean ambulance because tactile sensitivity is maintained.

As is evident from the description above and what follows hereafter, aglove in accordance with the present disclosure may be fabricated toinclude one or more of a plurality of different features.

The first feature is whether the glove is made to be a hand-specific oran ambidextrous glove. It should be understood that any of the glovesdescribed herein may be fabricated as either a hand-specific glove or asan ambidextrous glove.

Another feature that may be incorporated into any of the glovesdescribed herein relates to the fingertip regions provided on one ormore of the thumb region, index finger region, middle finger region,ring finger region, or little finger region of the glove. In someexamples of the glove, the fingertip region of one or more of the thumbregion or finger regions may be of generally a same circumference as aremaining portion of the associated thumb region or finger region. Inother examples, the fingertip region of one or more of the thumb andfinger regions may be fabricated to be of a smaller circumference thanthe remaining portion of the associated thumb region or finger region;i.e., the fingertip region may be substantially narrower than theremaining portion of the associated thumb region or finger region. Inyet other examples, the fingertip region of one or more of the thumb andfinger regions may be fabricated with tip that that will be describedlater herein as a “bullet-tip region”. This bullet-tip region isfabricated to have a smaller circumference than a remaining portion ofthe associated thumb region or finger region and a tapering conicalregion extends between the bullet fingertip region and the remainingportion of the associated thumb region or finger region. In someexamples, only one fingertip region on the glove will be fabricated tobe of a smaller circumference and the other fingertip regions will be ofgenerally the same circumference as the associated remaining portion ofthe thumb region or finger regions. In other examples only one fingertipregion on the glove may be fabricated as a bullet fingertip region andthe other fingertip regions will not be bullet fingertip regions. In yetother examples two fingertip regions will be fabricated to be of asmaller circumference or as a bullet fingertip region and the otherthree fingertip regions will not be fabricated in this manner. In otherexamples, three fingertip regions will be fabricated to be of a smallercircumference or as a bullet fingertip region and the other twofingertip regions will not be fabricated in this manner. In otherexamples, four fingertip regions will be fabricated to be of a smallercircumference or as a bullet fingertip region and the other onefingertip region will not be fabricated in this manner. In otherexamples, all five fingertip regions will be fabricated to be of asmaller circumference or as a bullet fingertip region.

Still further, gloves may be fabricated to include a combination of oneor more smaller circumference fingertip regions and/or one or morebullet fingertip regions and/or one or more fingertip regions that areneither smaller circumference nor bullet fingertip regions. The specificplacement and combinations of the various types of fingertip regions maybe utilized on a glove depending on the desired end-purpose andfunctionality of the glove.

Yet another feature that may be varied on the gloves in accordance withthe present invention is whether one or more areas on the glove istextured or is free of texture (aka smooth). The pattern and placementof textured regions may utilize any one of a variety of differenttexture patterns including but not limited to a sand pattern, a diamondpattern, a herringbone pattern, a fan pattern, a fish-scale pattern, awave pattern, a rib pattern etc. Gloves in accordance with thisdisclosure may have some areas that are left smooth or untextured andother regions that are textured. In other examples, some areas of theglove may be smooth or untextured, other regions may be provided with afirst texture and yet other regions may be provided with a secondtexture or even a third texture thereon. In some examples, the fingertipregions of one or more of the thumb and finger regions may be leftsmooth while in other examples the fingertip regions of one or more ofthe thumb and finger regions may be provided with a first texture. Inother examples, some of the fingertip regions may be left smooth whileother fingertip regions are provided with a first texture and yet otherfingertip regions are provided with a second texture. All of thefingertip regions may be smooth and the rest of the glove may betextured with one or more textures. (The rest of the glove may include afront surface and a back surface. The front surface may be one or moresurfaces that are adjacent the user's palm or the front surfaces of theuser's fingers and is able to contact objects when held in the user'shand. The back surface may be one or more of the surfaces opposite thefront surface and which will be located adjacent a back of the user'shand or fingers.) All of the fingertip regions may be textured while therest of the glove is left smooth. In other examples, one or more entirethumb region or finger region may be left smooth and untextured whilethe rest of the glove may be textured, or vice versa. In other instancesthe fingertip region and the remaining portion of the same thumb regionor finger region may differ from each other and/or from the rest of theglove. The fingertip region may be smooth and the remaining portion ofthe same thumb region or finger region may be textured or vice versa.

It is further to be understood that specific patterning of areas of theglove (i.e., smooth, not smooth, differently textured etc.) may beselected in accordance with the intended use of the glove. For example,one, two, three, four, or five smooth fingertip regions may be providedif tactile sensitivity in an activity is required. The tactilesensitivity can also be enhanced by providing smaller circumferencefingertip regions or bullet fingertip regions on some or all of thethumb and finger regions. Texturing may be provided on one, two, three,four, or five fingertip regions if gripping ability is important in anactivity. Utilizing smaller circumference fingertip regions or bulletfingertip regions may also enhance gripping ability. Any combination oftexturing on any specific one or more of the thumb region and fingerregions can be utilized to provide enhanced utility of a glove inaccordance with this disclosure.

Another feature which is understood to be able to be incorporated intoany glove in accordance with the present disclosure is the type ofmaterial used to fabricate the glove. Regardless of which particularglove is illustrated or described, it should be understood that thematerials for fabrication can be selected from any of those describedherein. The particular material will simply be selected to suit the endenvironment in which the particular glove will be utilized. The variousdescribed materials can therefore be utilized if the glove ishand-specific or ambidextrous, has same circumference fingertip regionsor smaller circumference fingertip regions or bullet fingertip regions;and regardless of whether areas of the glove are to be made smooth ortextured or multi-textured or a combination of these.

A further feature which may be utilized in any of the gloves describedor illustrated herein is the production of finger regions or a thumbregion that is relatively shorter than would typically be the case. Forexample, hands are typically shaped so that the middle finger is longerthan the index and ring fingers and the little finger is shorter thanall other fingers. Typically, the index and ring fingers are ofapproximately the same length. In some examples of gloves in accordancewith the present disclosure, the length of the index finger region maybe reduced or smaller so that the length thereof is shorter than thelength of the ring finger region. In other examples, the length of themiddle finger region may be reduced or smaller so that the length of themiddle finger region more closely approximates the length of the indexand ring finger regions. The length of the thumb region may also bereduced or smaller. The reduced or smaller length thumb region andfinger region causes the material of those regions of the glove to bepulled tighter around the tip of the thumb or finger than would be thecase if the thumb region or finger region was of a length more typicallyto the way people's hands are shaped. The tighter material increasestactile sensitivity because the material becomes stretched thin over theusers thumb region or finger region. In other words, the thickness ofthe material between the interior and exterior surfaces of the glove iseffectively reduced or smaller and therefore a person may more readilysense things through their thumb and fingers when they contact or holdsomething.

Yet a further feature that may be incorporated into any of the glovesillustrated or described herein is that of a rip, cut or tear-indicator.In particular, any of the gloves in accordance with the presentinvention may be fabricated to include an exterior surface or exteriorlayer of a first color and an interior surface or interior layer of asecond color. The first color and second color are preferablysufficiently contrasting that if a rip, cut or tear forms in the glove,the color of the interior surface or layer will become immediatelyevident and visible to the wearer of the glove or to others that observeexterior surface of the glove on the wearer's hand.

The cuff or wrist region of the glove may also be folded or rolled backupon itself in such a fashion that the second color will form a rim orborder at the base of the wrist region and contrast with the first coloron the rest of the glove. The visible second color cuff or wrist regionrelative to the first colored rest of the glove may serve as evidence topersons selecting the glove that this particular glove includes atear-indicator. The different color cuff or wrist region may further beutilized to symbolize the types of material from which the interior andexterior layers or surfaces are fabricated. For example, the interiorlayer or interior surface may be formed from a material that is free ofor is essentially free of elements, components, or compounds that causehypersensitivity or allergic reaction in people who wear the glove. Aparticular color may be provided in the interior layer or interiorsurface to indicate this property in the glove. In other instances, theinterior surface or interior layer or exterior surface or exterior layermay be fabricated from a material that shields the user from exposure tocertain dangerous substances. For example, the interior or exteriorlayer or surface may protect the wearer from being exposed to substancessuch as fentanyl. Again, a color provided in either of the interiorsurface or layer or exterior surface of layer of the glove may be usedto signify this property.

It should further be understood that the different configurationsregarding materials, length, fingertip regions, texturing, lack oftexturing etc. described herein may be provided on a hand-specific gloveor on an ambidextrous glove. It should be further understood that thevarious descriptions and figures provided herein are provided asexamples of the types of feature combinations that may be utilized in aglove in accordance with this disclosure. The figures and descriptionshould therefore not be construed to limit the permutations andcombinations in which the various features described herein may beprovided on a glove in accordance with this disclosure.

The provision of smooth/differently textured fingertip regions has beendescribed and illustrated herein in conjunction with hand-specificgloves and ambidextrous gloves. In the latter, the entire circumferenceof the index finger region, the middle finger region, and the thumbregion may be provided with an untextured surface or with a texture thatdiffers from a rest of the glove or even from the other of fingertipregions of the index finger region, middle finger region and thumbregion. Thus, the smooth/textured or differently textured “frontsurface” may be provided on each of the surfaces of the fingertip regionthat may selectively be positioned adjacent a front surface of thethumb, index finger or middle finger depending on whether the glove isworn on a left hand or a right hand.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art thatproviding smooth (i.e., untextured) surfaces on the fingertip regions ofthe index finger region, middle finger region and or thumb region ishelpful in many medically-related settings. For example, smoothfingertip regions on the index finger region and/or middle finger regionmay be helpful when checking a pulse, starting an IV, feeling for veinfor IV—visual helps to start but must feel it before breaking the skin.Having a smooth fingertip region on the thumb region of the glove isalso useful when starting an IV or when connecting an IV tube to acatheter as these have to be twisted and locked together. Having asmooth thumb also helps with a regulator on IV tubing as the medicalprofessional has to “roll it” to clasp the tube and adjust the flowrate; and the thumb does the “rolling”. Having a smooth fingertip regionon the thumb region is also helpful with moving medicine thru an IV lineas the thumb is used on a plunger to pump medicine thru the IV.Additionally, smooth fingertip regions on the thumb region and index andmiddle finger regions may be also helpful when prepping a needle sheath.

A thinner glove is good for procedures performed inside an ambulance fora better feel on the user's hand; like working on a patient as comparedto outside the ambulance where actions can include more to do withmoving the patient. In these instances a thicker glove may be helpful.

It will be understood that while the gloves disclosed herein have beendiscussed as being useful in the medical field, other fields of endeavormay benefit from utilizing gloves that embody the principles appliedherein. For example, gloves used by people who shoot guns may bebeneficial as they provide an enhanced or at least relatively unimpededsense of touch along with an improved grip on a trigger.

In some instances, a glove in accordance with the present disclosure mayhave three fingertip regions (thumb region, index finger region andmiddle finger region) that are smooth and a sand texture on the ringfinger region and little finger region and the rest of the glove,particularly or only the palm region, may be smooth (i.e., free oftexture). Such a glove would be particularly useful in a hospitalenvironment. In an EMS (emergency management services) environment aglove having three fingertip regions (thumb region, index finger regionand middle finger region) that are smooth, with a diamond patternedtexture or other texture or no texture on the palm region would beparticularly helpful. The fingertip regions on the thumb region, indexfinger region, and middle finger region would also be helpful in both ofthese environments.

It will further be understood that the concepts disclosed herein may beutilized in gloves that may be manufactured from one of a medium acrylicnitrile (i.e., about 24% solids), high acrylic nitrile (i.e., about 45%solids), neoprene, natural rubber, and a polymer suitable for surgicalgloves. Furthermore, the gloves may be manufactured from materials thatare free of or essentially free of zinc, sulfur, fluoride, orcross-links. Still further, the glove material may be selected to beresistant to chemicals, particularly drugs. For example, the glovematerial may be resistant to opioids such as fentanyl and heroin. Theglove material may be about 5 mm in thickness which enables the materialin the fingertip regions to be pulled sufficient thin enough, when theglove is donned, for a user to be able to detect a patient's pulsetherethrough. The gloves incorporating the features disclosed herein maybe ambidextrous gloves, hand specific gloves, examination gloves ordisposable gloves.

Gloves with smooth (i.e., untextured) fingertip regions on the thumbregion, index region and middle finger regions make it easier formedical personnel to check a pulse, start an intra-venous (IV) drip,prepping a needle sheath, connecting an IV tube to a catheter, helpingto twist and lock these components together. A smooth fingertip regionon thumb region may help moving medication through an IV line as thethumb is used on a plunger to pump medication through the IV line.Smooth fingertip regions on two finger regions help to feel for a veinfor an IV insertion. Thinner fingertip regions are helpful when insidean ambulance because tactile sensitivity is maintained.

Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, ofwhich an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of themethod may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments maybe constructed in which acts are performed in an order different thanillustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, eventhough shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other means and/or structures for performing the functionand/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantagesdescribed herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications isdeemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments describedherein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters,dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon thespecific application or applications for which the inventive teachingsis/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is,therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presentedby way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claimsand equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventiveembodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and inthe claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should beunderstood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used hereinin the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understoodto mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elementsthat are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively presentin other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should beconstrued in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements soconjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than theelements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used inconjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, inone embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B);in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements otherthan A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionallyincluding other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification andin the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as“and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list,“or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., theinclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a numberor list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Onlyterms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or“exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” willrefer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list ofelements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only beinterpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the otherbut not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,”“one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentiallyof,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used inthe field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

While components of the present disclosure are described herein inrelation to each other, it is possible for one of the componentsdisclosed herein to include inventive subject matter, if claimed aloneor used alone. In keeping with the above example, if the disclosedembodiments teach the features of A and B, then there may be inventivesubject matter in the combination of A and B, A alone, or B alone,unless otherwise stated herein.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the term“effecting” or a phrase or claim element beginning with the term“effecting” should be understood to mean to cause something to happen orto bring something about. For example, effecting an event to occur maybe caused by actions of a first party even though a second partyactually performed the event or had the event occur to the second party.Stated otherwise, effecting refers to one party giving another party thetools, objects, or resources to cause an event to occur. Thus, in thisexample a claim element of “effecting an event to occur” would mean thata first party is giving a second party the tools or resources needed forthe second party to perform the event, however the affirmative singleaction is the responsibility of the first party to provide the tools orresources to cause said event to occur.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” anotherfeature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or elementor intervening features and/or elements may also be present. Incontrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directlyon” another feature or element, there are no intervening features orelements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature orelement is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” toanother feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached orcoupled to the other feature or element or intervening features orelements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element isreferred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or“directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are nointervening features or elements present. Although described or shownwith respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so describedor shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated bythose of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature thatis disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap orunderlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”,“upper”, “above”, “behind”, “in front of”, and the like, may be usedherein for ease of description to describe one element or feature'srelationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in thefigures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms areintended to encompass different orientations of the device in use oroperation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Forexample, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as“under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented“over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under”can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may beotherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and thespatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”,“lateral”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, and the like are used hereinfor the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicatedotherwise.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describevarious features/elements, these features/elements should not be limitedby these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms maybe used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element.Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a secondfeature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussedherein could be termed a first feature/element without departing fromthe teachings of the present invention.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure.Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,”“some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplaryembodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but notnecessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances“an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particularembodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or thelike, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.

If this specification states a component, feature, structure, orcharacteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particularcomponent, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to beincluded. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element,that does not mean there is only one of the element. If thespecification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does notpreclude there being more than one of the additional element.

As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in theexamples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may beread as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if theterm does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately”may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate thatthe value and/or position described is within a reasonable expectedrange of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may havea value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1%of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (orrange of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10%of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical rangerecited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

Additionally, the method of performing the present disclosure may occurin a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, nosequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitlystated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of themethod in a different order could achieve a similar result.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively.

To the extent that the present disclosure has utilized the term“invention” in various titles or sections of this specification, thisterm was included as required by the formatting requirements of worddocument submissions pursuant the guidelines/requirements of the UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office and shall not, in any manner, beconsidered a disavowal of any subject matter.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of thedisclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

What is claimed:
 1. A glove comprising: a wrist region; a palm regionextending outwardly from the wrist region; at least one digit regionextending outwardly from the palm region and terminating at a terminalend, wherein a longitudinal axis of the at least one digit regionextends between the terminal end and the palm region; a perimeter of theat least one digit region circumscribing a centerline that extends alongthe longitudinal axis, wherein the perimeter extends through 360°;wherein at least one section of the perimeter spaced a distance inwardlyfrom the terminal end of the at least one digit region is reduced insize such that the at least one digit region comprises a fingertipregion of a first circumference and a remaining portion of a secondcircumference, wherein the first circumference is less than the secondcircumference; and wherein the remaining portion extends between thepalm region and the at least one section of the perimeter of reducedsize.
 2. The glove according to claim 1, wherein at least one arcuateregion of the remaining portion extends radially outwardly beyond anexterior surface of the fingertip region when the terminal end of thefingertip region is viewed looking in a direction of the palm region. 3.The glove according to claim 2, wherein the at least one arcuate regionof the remaining portion is longitudinally aligned with the at least onesection of the perimeter of reduced size.
 4. The glove according toclaim 2, wherein the at least one arcuate region comprises a firstarcuate region and a second arcuate region that is opposed to the firstarcuate region.
 5. The glove according to claim 4, wherein the at leastone section of the perimeter of reduced size comprises a first sectionof reduced size and a second section of reduced size; and wherein thefirst section of reduced size is longitudinally aligned with the firstarcuate region and the second section of reduced size is longitudinallyaligned with the second arcuate region.
 6. The glove according to claim4, wherein the first arcuate region and the second arcuate region arecircumferentially spaced from one another by an area of the perimeterwhich is not reduced in size.
 7. The glove according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one section of the perimeter of reduced size extendsthrough less than 360°.
 8. The glove according to claim 1, wherein theat least one section of the perimeter of reduced size comprises: a firstsection of the perimeter; and a second section of the perimeter which isopposed to the first section; wherein the first section and the secondsection, together, extend through less than 360°.
 9. The glove accordingto claim 8, further comprising a third section of the perimeter locatedbetween the first section of the perimeter and the second section of theperimeter; wherein the third section is unreduced in size.
 10. The gloveaccording to claim 9, further comprising a fourth section of theperimeter located opposite the third section, wherein the fourth sectionof the perimeter extends between the first section of the perimeter andthe second section of the perimeter; wherein both the third section andthe fourth section are unreduced in size.
 11. The glove according toclaim 1, wherein the fingertip region originates at the terminal end ofthe at least one digit region and extends inwardly for a distancetowards the palm region; and wherein the remaining portion is locatedbetween the fingertip region and the palm region.
 12. The gloveaccording to claim 11, wherein the fingertip region transitions to theremaining portion at a location adapted to be generally aligned with afirst knuckle of a person's finger or thumb received within an interiorof the at least one digit region.
 13. The glove according to claim 2,wherein the at least one digit region has: a front surface and a rearsurface opposed to the front surface; a first side surface and a secondside surface opposed to the first side surface, wherein the first sidesurface and the second side surface extend between the front surface andthe rear surface; and wherein the exterior surface beyond which the atleast one arcuate region of the remaining portion extends outwardly isone of the front surface and the rear surface of the fingertip region.14. The glove according to claim 13, wherein the at least one arcuateregion comprises a first arcuate region and a second arcuate region, andthe first arcuate region extends outwardly beyond the front surface ofthe fingertip region and the second arcuate region extends outwardlybeyond the rear surface of the fingertip region.
 15. The glove accordingto claim 14, wherein the first arcuate region and the second arcuateregion are mirror images of one another.
 16. The glove according toclaim 2, wherein the at least one digit region has: a front surface anda rear surface opposed to the front surface; a first side surface and asecond side surface opposed to the first side surface, wherein the firstside surface and the second side surface extend between the frontsurface and the rear surface; and wherein the exterior surface beyondwhich the at least one arcuate region of the remaining portion extendsoutwardly is one of the first side surface and the second side surfaceof the fingertip region.
 17. The glove according to claim 16, whereinthe at least one arcuate region comprises a first arcuate region and asecond arcuate region, and the first arcuate region extends outwardlybeyond the first side surface of the fingertip region and the secondarcuate region extends outwardly beyond the second side surface of thefingertip region.
 18. The glove according to claim 17, wherein the firstarcuate region and the second arcuate region are mirror images of oneanother.
 19. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the at least onedigit region has: a front surface and a rear surface opposed to thefront surface; a first side surface and a second side surface opposed tothe first side surface, wherein the first side surface and the secondside surface extend between the front surface and the rear surface;wherein an imaginary major axis extends between the front surface andthe rear surface; wherein an imaginary minor axis extends between thefirst side surface and the second side surface; wherein the imaginarymajor axis and the imaginary minor axis are oriented at ninety degreesrelative to one another and to the longitudinal axis; and whereinreduction of the perimeter along the at least one section causes adimension of the fingertip region along only one of the imaginary majoraxis and the imaginary minor axis to be reduced relative to a dimensionof the remaining portion along the one of the imaginary major axis andthe imaginary minor axis.
 20. The glove according to claim 1, whereinthe glove is manufactured from a material being one of nitrile, a mediumacrylic nitrile having about 24% solids, a high acrylic nitrile havingabout 45% solids, neoprene, natural rubber, and elastomeric polymers andwherein the material is free of or essentially free of zinc, sulfur,fluoride, cross-links, accelerators, and accelerants includingcarbonates and thiurams.